Peter the Pancake Man: Gone but never forgotten

GEORGE NEWS - He was not only part of the Milkwood Village, for nearly 20 years Peter Massyn, better known as Peter the Pancake Man, was the heart of it.

On Tuesday morning 18 July, residents of Wilderness woke up to the sad news of the passing of this local legend. It is believed that Peter died of a heart attack at his home in Hoekwil.

Everyone who ever visited Milkwood Village in Wilderness is sure to have encountered him. Peter always had a story to share and since 2004 he daily flipped the most delicious pancakes while chatting to those who visited his stall in the village.

He was however not only loved by residents and visitors to Wilderness. For the past 13 years, between September and November each year, a number of Knysna loeries would visit Peter at his stall where he fed them. Some even helped themselves to some pancakes and shared food from Peter's plate.

Peter took over this "task" from a previous tenant in Milkwood Village who used to feed the birds until the business closed down many years ago.

"Peter was much loved by everyone," said a friend and former Milkwood Village manager, Caroline Moss.

"Always making his famous pancakes and helping the village people. At the Friday night market he was always there selling his warm pancakes and later with a cup of coffee. He fed the people, loved the birds and spent a lot of his later life there. He will be sorely missed. Thank you Peter. We salute you. Rest in peace now that your job here on earth is done. Fly high with the angels."

Wilderness local and one of Peter's biggest fans, Jeff Ayliffe, says their friendship goes back as far as the early 2000s.

"I have been driving to Wilderness to fly paragliders as far back as 1999. Pete and I met in 2004 and he was probably the first of the true characters of the village that I met. For R5 you got an absolutely delicious pancake, and when my son Taylan was with me, Pete would always throw in a couple extra. That was just the reflection of his personality, it was never about business. He loved the people and truly was a kind, generous man. His Milkwood corner will be an empty place."

World-famous pancakes

Peter, who took his batter recipe to the grave, gained worldwide fame with his almost acrobatic way of flipping pancakes.

In an interview with George Herald in 2012 he said he taught himself to bake and flip pancakes and that his love for people and cooking was a gift from God.

In the early 2000s he was given the opportunity to bake pancakes in front of Wilderness Spar, which is where John Phaff, the original owner of Milkwood Village, saw him and asked him to move to Milkwood Village where he traded until his dying day.

In loving memory

Peter's life will be celebrated at Milkwood Village on Sunday 23 July from 14:00. Please bring something to sit on, something to drink and a plate of eats to share.

For more information and to RSVP, please contact Francois on 064 582 1249.

Peter doing what he did best.