Peter was born in 1947 into a military family then based in Germany. His early childhood was spent overseas, first in Germany and later in Burma, before the family eventually settled back in England. He was educated at St Alfred’s School, Wantage, and The Royal Liberty School, in Romford where he was a keen member of the Combined Cadet Force and where his ambition to pursue a military career first took root. From there he went on to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

Commissioned into the Gloucestershire Regiment, Peter joined the battalion in Berlin during the tense years of the Cold War. Over the following years he held a succession of regimental appointments in the UK, Northern Ireland and BAOR, including platoon commander, company second-in-command, operations officer, and later as officer commanding A Company and Battalion second-in-command. He also fitted in an exchange with 1RCR in Canada and a tour at Depot Crickhowell, commanding the junior soldiers’ company. Each role bore the hallmark of his professionalism, care for his men, and steady leadership.  He was a popular officer, respected equally by his brother officers and by his soldiers who appreciated his relaxed, informal and, at times, irreverent approach to soldiering.

Much to his own surprise, he was selected for the Staff College. On graduating, he was posted to a staff appointment in North West District – which he himself described as somewhat unglamorous – before getting a 2 year tour with MATT Nigeria.  Peter was then selected to command 1 Wessex when the battalion faced significant restructuring, reorganisation, and re-roling challenges. He handled these with calm assurance, energy, and clarity of purpose, ensuring that morale was maintained and that the transition was completed efficiently and effectively. His command of 1 Wessex is remembered as a period of stability and success under difficult circumstances for which he was awarded an OBE.

With command behind him, Peter was able to steer the latter part of his career in a direction that played to his strengths and interests. He undertook a succession of overseas postings which made full use of his diplomatic skills, his sense of humour and fun, and his human touch. These included staff and training appointments at the Canadian Staff College and later with BMATT Zimbabwe. In these roles he proved to be as adaptable and effective as he had been in regimental life.

On retirement from the Army, he joined People Positive, an organization which prepared young volunteers for service in Africa, India and the Himalayas, work to which he was ideally suited. In civilian life, at home in Wales, he pursued his passions for motorcycling and amateur dramatics, and became a prominent, well-liked and well-respected member of his local community.   He was also noted for playing the guitar – badly. 

For the last 7 years of his life, Peter bravely fought with cancer but never let it spoil his zest for life nor his love of and dedication to the Regiment.  He was a strong supporter of the Regimental Association and, despite his gruelling treatment, he was a regular attendee at Association events and Regimental funerals where he took particular delight in greeting old comrades with his characteristic wry smile. He died peacefully in St Michael’s Hospice, Hereford.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 40 years, Diana.