Ah Peter - you had far too many God-given gifts for just 1 man.
Great physical strength, sporting prowess, and a presence impossible to ignore, reinforced with a highly competitive nature, a will to win despite the odds, courage to the point of fearlessness, a determined mind-set, strength of will, and a shrewd brain. All fronted by a handsome face with a ready smile that would charm all you interacted with.
These qualities forged you into a natural born leader early in life.
Your many attributes trickled slowly but surely into my consciousness early in my teenage years, and simply multiplied over the ensuing years.
Boxing, swimming, tennis, badminton and rugby – you excelled at them all at different stages of your life.
You were junior boxing champion at Hutton Grammar School – a school where sporting achievement was recognised as an essential aspect of development. Upon moving home to Poulton-le-Fylde we brothers changed school, to attend Baines Grammar School. On Peter’s 1st day, at the end of morning break, Peter was walking up the steps to enter the school building. He was “greeted” by 4 older (and bigger) boys who barred his entry. The leader of this group was a tall, powerfully built, blonde-haired specimen called Dave Crowe who addressed Peter, saying “You’re the new boy, aren’t you! Welcome to Baines Grammar”, kneeing Peter hard in the thigh in what was called “dead-legging, a painful and temporarily debilitating action. Peter dropped down in pain whilst the group guffawed, but came up and punched his assailant, who was a foot taller, a year older, and powerfully muscled. A bloody fight ensued between the 2, only to be broken up by the arrival of the Gym master. He told them that if they had to fight, they must do so after lessons in the Gym, with boxing gloves, under his supervision. And so it happened. Peter came off worse in the contest, but was never fazed. That day, Peter, you were simply out-muscled by a bigger opponent. The Gym master declared the contest the Best fight he had seen in his 20 years at that school. And Peter confided days later that he didn’t mind taking a punch or two as long as he could get a good one in himself.
He was also an excellent swimmer. I remember on a family day-trip to Ainsdale beach the football we were kicking around landed in the water some way out. Mum cried, “Quick – get the ball back before we lose it”. Peter just ran into the water and dived into the waves trying to reach the ball as a strong tide relentlessly swept it out. Peter swam – and swam, but that white plastic ball just kept going further and further with each successive wave. He went out over a quarter of a mile before eventually turning back as the ball was carried out to sea faster than he could swim. It was a bold thing to do for a 14 year old lad.
He was pretty good at tennis, too, winning a score of trophies through his power and control.
And badminton, to which he was introduced around 18 years of age.
But his greatest passion turned out to be rugby. He became enthralled by the sheer all-out physicality of the contest on the pitch, competing in countless matches for his teams both sides of the Pennines for nearly 2 decades, and captaining his team for many years through his drive, inspirational excitement and all-out commitment to the sport.
I was always envious of Peter – for his strength, boldness, and sporting prowess, but also so very proud of him and all that he achieved. I was even more envious of how he always looked so darned handsome. He managed to look super attractive no matter how he was dressed. And then there was that SMILE.
A smile that was warm, beautiful, engaging and charming. But he wasn’t born with that smile. One icy, winter’s day, at Baines Grammar School, during a break, pupils had fashioned a long slide from the icy conditions. A long slide, polished through numerous pairs of shoes sliding down the slope. I saw Peter take his turn running onto the slide and balancing as he slid full-tilt along the ice – when a young lad (I remember his name was Paul Raymond, a rather smelly boy who always wore dark bottle-green corduroy shorts) stuck his foot out and tripped Peter up as he hurtled along. Peter flew headlong. The heavy fall broke his front teeth. Months later their eventual replacements were perfectly fashioned, and Peter’s super-charming and confident smile was born.
That smile complemented his bold and confident out-going character, contributing to his success in his salesman career with Colgate Palmolive and Gillette, where he again excelled, frequently winning valuable prizes as Top Salesperson of the year.
The high point of his career came when he fronted Public Eye Enterprises, promoting sport and working with famous achievers in sport and the media. He revelled in this job and excelled at it. His passion for sport and his rare ability to engage and interact with famous people – high achievers on the world stage – was due to his confidence, charm, enthusiasm and inspirational qualities. And, let’s not forget, that endearing, and enduring smile. These high achievers simply warmed to him, liked him, and happily bonded with him.
These qualities – Confidence, Charm, Enthusiasm, Commitment, his ability to Inspire and Influence those around him, are what tinged Peter with the rarest of human qualities – “Charisma”.
He lived life to the full. He enjoyed his life. Regrets? Yes – he had a few. But still continued to eat Life up. He was generous as a brother. And as a father.
He had been a Hero to me – having so many attributes that I dreamed of having. But didn’t. And never could have. I envied him for 70 years. I feel so sad he is gone.
I have always felt immensely proud of him. Proud to be Peter’s brother. So Proud.
I miss you. Rest in Peace Peter.