Remembering Peter Keen

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Past Master Peter Keen, the beloved chairman of Hypnos, who has died at the age of 81.

A great advocate for the family-owned business he inherited in his early thirties, Hypnos’ successes at that time, and the brand’s legacy today, were greatly influenced by the hospitality partnerships Peter introduced, and the many close relationships with retailers and suppliers formed over his 58-years as a director and chairman.

He will be remembered for his strong character, sense of fun, and broad experience.  A determined initiator of change, Peter transformed the business to a £60m turnover global brand; and represented the industry on key issues with both the NBF, BFM and The Furniture Makers’ Company. Peter also enjoyed supporting numerous community ventures, charities and conservation groups within Buckinghamshire, with a genuine interest and commitment to its rich furniture-making heritage.

Peter was always very aware and incredibly proud of what individuals and the team at Hypnos achieved. Indeed, the sense of family within the company today, owes great thanks to his generous, playful nature, and time spent with people in every area of the business. 

Always passionate about the company’s relationship with the Royal households, he was delighted to see our reappointment, after 96 years, with a Royal Warrant from His Majesty The King. Over the last few months, he was greatly honoured to host a Royal visit to the Hypnos factory, and in May, to have been recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award by his friends and peers at The Furniture Makers Company.

Recently celebrating his 81^st birthday, Peter remained ‘Chairman (soon to be retired)’ right up to the end, a beloved husband to Judith, father to James, Sarah and Rick and much-loved grandfather.

The Furniture Makers’ Company offer their condolences to the Keen family and their friends that knew Peter at this very sad time.  

On hearing the news of Peter’s passing, many of our Past Masters shared their memories of him.

Past Master Simon Brown, who had Peter as his senior warden, said: “He was a great support and never lost his sense of fun. Later he became a great friend not forgetting his kindness as supplier of beds to myself and the family. Here in Norfolk we are wall to wall Hypnos. He used to call me his Norfolk agent.

“His sense of fun kept his friends on their toes as he might suddenly announce without warning at the end of a dinner that you would now give the thank you speech to the host or those not wearing his red socks at a Court Meeting should now redeem some sort of forfeit.”

Past Master Cliff Rust said: “I was proud to think of Peter as my friend and will miss him. There are so many memories of time spent with Peter but what always springs to mind was my Master Outing to Veuve Clicquot in Reims. As we were all walking to their cellars, we realised Peter was missing. We turned a corner and saw Peter had taken off his shoes and socks, rolled up his trousers, and was walking in one of their vats treading grapes.”

Past Master Christopher Claxton Stevens, who served as Peter’s senior warden, said: “Peter ‘landed me in it’ on a few occasions but one was the result of a lunch he was invited to as Master to Butchers’ Hall.  During the meal their beadle managed to smash his gavel by over-exerting it and Peter immediately piped up to their Master that the Furniture Makers would get another gavel made to replace the loss.  Accordingly, I got a new one turned and the following year, as Master, I went and presented it at lunch to the then Master whom I sat next to during the meal, who happened to be Princess Anne.”

Past Master Tony Attard said: “Peter was truly a man that integrated his life and his work – his work was his life, and his life revolved around Hypnos. It was my pleasure to present him with a UKCI/ Panaz Lifetime Achievement Award during the UKCI lunch at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. 

“He came with all his family and senior management team because they were all part of his life. When he stood on the stage to make his acceptance speech, he carefully took out his notes from his inside jacket pocket and then proceeded to ceremoniously rip them up, saying that he could not deliver a speech from notes as he was so overwhelmed by the reception he received from the audience. A true raconteur. My thoughts are with his family at this difficult time, but we should celebrate a life well lived.”