Peter was born deep in the Brass Band country of the Peak District, where he played cornet and conducted several local bands. In 1960 he joined the City of Manchester Police Band as Solo Cornet whilst continuing his work with amateur bands.
On moving to Chester in the 1970’s, Peter soon became involved in music in the area.
He was Musical Director of Chester Ladies Choir for 7 years, Cestrian Male Voice Choir (now City of Chester MVC) for 6 years, and then Farndon and District Brass Band for the next 7 years until 2007. During that time he has been musical director at several major local concerts, conducting some prestigious bands and massed choirs.
For many years Peter has worked as a peripatetic brass instrumental tutor in Cheshire schools. He directed a Junior School Orchestra, taking it to the late stages of the National Festival of Music for Youth in the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and twice at the Royal Festival Hall in London. After continuing to work part-time, mainly teaching singing to large groups of school children, Peter finally retired in September 2015. But it’s hard to kick the habit, and he still gives ‘one-to-one’ instrumental tuition for City of Chester Training Band. He was appointed Musical Director of Kelsborrow Choir in 2010, following the retirement of the late Ken Hughes.
A high spot for Peter was conducting the Choir and their guests, the Grimethorpe Colliery Band, in Chester Cathedral in December 2009, but he was forced to take a back seat for most of 2016 following major surgery. He is now fully restored to health and is enjoying his return to Musical Director duties.