Peter started his musical career as pianist, and was introduced to the trombone as a teenager, although, piano has always been his first love. Like so many brass musicians he first played in the Salvation Army. Having decided that his future lay in music rather than sport he went on to study at conservatoire in Manchester having piano and trombone as joint first studies. The course was ‘straight’ in nature and Peter soon began to specialise as an orchestral bass trombonist. Whilst in Manchester he was also introduced to the world of big band jazz – playing in a rehearsal band led by Maynard Ferguson – that in itself was a baptism of fire and he can remember frantically chasing the notes across the page!

After conservatoire he moved to the East Riding to take up a teaching post on Humberside. The lure of music became too strong and he soon left the teaching world to become a profession jazz pianist and still played swing music in a local big band as a bass trombonist. In 1976 he temporarily(?!) moved to the North East in search of work. Peter quickly slipped into the North Eastern Working Men’s Club scene and spent many years as an organist working over the area. He returned to teaching and was a Head of department in two large comprehensive schools on Sunderland – latterly becoming a head of faculty at Southmoor School.

Recently after a change in personal circumstances, Peter returned to the world of professional music and now spends most of his time practicing, playing the trombone and doing some supply teaching. At the last count, he was a regular member of five bands in the North East – most of them ‘swing bands’. He joined the Felling Band ‘for one competition only’ some three years ago!

Peter has three well and truly grown up sons who have all left home and when he is not involved in music he enjoys motor biking, cooking and travelling.