Peter was born in Leeds on the 6th November 1935, the oldest of five children, four brothers and one sister. He spent his younger years at Ilkley and later, the family moved around the UK several times as his father Tom was a regular in the RAF. They eventually settled in Stoke on Trent in the Potteries. As a young teenager, Peter joined the scouts and travelled to the scout jamboree in Austria. He often related tales of this adventure and there is a photograph of him appearing in a tableaux dressed in a Roman toga! Peter went to technical college and began employment in a drawing office before serving three years in the RAF as a drill instructor. On leaving the service, he moved to Dudley and joined the local police force, eventually becoming a CID officer working on scenes of crime. There he met and married and had his daughter Helen who now lives in Australia, as do his brothers and sister. On eventually leaving the police force Peter worked for a number of years for the chocolate company Mars, rising from merchandiser to head of a sales team. Later he worked in sales for a number of other companies. Sadly, his marriage did not last and in 1985 Peter met Barbara and there began a partnership which was to last for 27 years. They married in 1987 and enjoyed many happy times since. Peter became a father to Barbara's son Ian and their relationship gradually developed to the point where Ian said that he wished Peter had been his real Dad! As time passed, Peter became a loving father in law to Jane and a super grandad to Alex. At the age of 50, Peter took up horse riding to support Helen, who went on to become an accomplished horse-woman. At the same time, he also began playing golf, an activity he enjoyed immensely until his final illness. In 1987 Peter and Barbara move to the south coast to manage a nursing home, they bought a boat and enjoyed many happy and sometimes, hairy, times saling in the Solent. They joined the local sailing club and Peter was appointed Rear Commodore, a position which he held for the statutory two years. In 2000 Peter suffered a stroke and he and Barbara decided to retire to Spain. He gradually regained his health and for many years enjoyed life in the sunshine. For all his life, Peter was an avid sportsman, and excellent swimmer, he became a life saver and played water polo. He played for the local badminton team and was a staunch supporter of Stoke City football club. In later years he enjoyed watching all sports, particularly cricket, football, golf and tennis. Peter enjoyed listening to classical music and Tina Turner! Whilst living on the south coast he and Barbara made many visits to Chichester theatre and local concerts, sometimes travelling up to London for some special performance. Throughout his life, Peter's dry sense of humour would surface and even during his long and difficult illness he never lost his capacity for making some remark which would make those around him chuckle. His anecdotes about his various past experiences were a source of laughter for the family, even if the stories were a little more embellished each time he rated them. Peter was much loved and will be sadly missed by those who knew him. At this point, Barbara wishes to pay tribute to those members of the family who dearly wished to be present today. Peter's daughter, Helen in Australia, who visited a few weeks before his death and wishes to remember him as he was then, perky and cheerful. Sister in law Connie, who is sadly unable to attend due to recent surgery and daughter in law Jane, who is at home in the UK looking after grandson Alex. Barbara knows that the thoughts of these dear people are with us today and, if not here in person, they are here in spirit and thought.