Email: john@peglers.co.uk

"John was brought up on various farms and had great experiences living in very basic 'tin shed' accommodation with no water on site. At 8 he joined a local Cub pack. Joining the RAF in 1958 as a Clinical Photographer and posted to Cyprus in 1960 where he met June, who would later become his wife.
On return to England he was posted in Devon on Aerial Combat processing and would hike over Exmoor most weekends to see June before he was demobbed in 1964.

1966 saw John & June marry and a year later their first son, Mike, was born, followed 3 years later by Dave and 1971 the family moved from Banbury, where John was working for Automotive Products in charge of 21 clerks, to Slindon to be closer to the sea and find village schooling for the boys. This move saw John cycling 12 miles a day to and from work at LEC refrigeration in Bognor Regis. The family holidays at this time were spent cycling and cycle camping all over the length and breadth of England and Wales and over many weeks and weekends they learnt the art of lightweight camping.

In 1978 whilst working as a scientific assistant John started to help out at a local Cub Scout pack, going on camps and hikes etc. until in 1981 he took over 1st Walberton Scout troop (at that time consisting of just 5 boys). Through hard work and dedication this became 1st Walberton & Slindon Scout troop and very soon there were 30 boys with a waiting list of eight. They were the first troop to win the County Standard, won all the district events and went on backpacking trips to Lake District, Yorkshire Moors, Andorra/Pyrenees, Isle of Skye etc, etc.

At this time John found it impossible to find anywhere in England that could give impartial advice on equipment suitable for young people in mountain areas, so he started to research it himself. During this time various courses were attended for Scout Leaders, Group Scout Leaders and a 12 week Youth Leader Course. In 1986 john was made a Justice of the Peace on Arundel Bench.

1987 saw John made redundant and the decision was made to 'sell' the knowledge of equipment he had gathered through research and his own camping/backpacking experiences. Peglers Outdoor Equipment Advisers was born and rapidly changed to Peglers Expedition Equipment Advisors. Initially based at their home in Slindon on an appointment only basis it was soon clear that with thte increase of lorries turning up they would need a shop and 69 Tarrant Street Arundel was secured.

Now John and June enjoy travelling and split their time between the shops in Arundel, keeping abreast of as much tennis as possible and travelling to places such as Kenya, Cyprus and Maldives."

Send your questions to John and he will be pleased to help you.