Date of death: 27 October 1993
Year James Spence Medal awarded: 1986
Sir Peter studied at Rugby, Oriel College, Oxford, and the Middlesex Hospital. After serving in the army for four years, he began a career in paediatrics, working at Great Ormond Street, St Mary's Hospital, Queen Square, and Harvard. He was appointed Reader in Paediatrics to the Institute of Child Health and Honorary Consultant Paediatrician to Hammersmith Hospital, and later first Chair of Paediatrics to Hammersmith Hospital. He also was appointed Chair of Paediatrics to the University of Oxford.
Sir Peter made important academic contributions to neonatology and paediatric neurology, including building up an academic neonatal unit at Hammersmith and creating a coordinated academic unit of neonatology and neurology at Oxford.
While President of the BPA, he enhanced national importance and status, creating links with other organisations and aided the establishment of the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit. His role as a teacher, researcher and leader has been internationally recognised, and he has given numerous guest lectures and participated in national paediatric societies. Sir Peter was knighted in 1982, has been the Dawson Williams Prizeman of the British Medical Association and a Past Master of the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries.