As Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Leeds (1996 – 2009) he was Director of NHS Liaison for the School of Medicine, overseeing all student placements in partner NHS Trusts to ensure the quality of education provided.
As a consultant in gastroenterology, his clinical and research interests in diseases of the small intestine developed over 30 years, resulting in the publication of over 100 research papers and three books. Including the Royal Society of Medicine’s, 2007 ‘Your Guide to coeliac disease’ – a helpful guide for patients, providing invaluable advice on how to manage the misunderstood but common condition.
From 2007 – 2011, Peter was a trusted and highly respected member of Coeliac UK’s Board of Governors and member of its Medical Advisory Council. Peter received Coeliac UK’s ‘Distinguished Service Award’ in 2011 for his contribution to the welfare of coeliac patients and for his service as a Governor for the charity. In his retirement Peter continued to provide advice and support to Coeliac UK.
Former Director of Evidence and Policy at Coeliac UK, Norma McGough, remembers Peter with great fondness and recalls how he was the first member on MAC to phone and reach out to her with support and advice, when she first joined the charity.
One of Peter’s next generation, is Dr Gerry Robins, Consultant Gastroenterologist, York Hospital, a current valued member of Coeliac UK’s Health Advisory Council, as it is known today, and Board of Trustees.
“Peter was a very gentle, genuinely caring, lovely man, who was an early and constant advocate for all those who live with coeliac disease. A great supporter for “the cause” who led by example and inspired most of the current (older) generation of doctors that work in the field of coeliac disease. He left a great legacy.” Dr Gerry Robins
“Peter was a beautiful person. Gentle, intelligent and softly spoken. Literally all the Leeds Consultants were his trainees at the time of his retirement. He was a man of deep faith and I think he led his life in the same way that he held his faith” Prof David Sanders, Royal Hallamshire Hospital and Chair of Coeliac UK’s HAC
During the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the ways medical schools supported the NHS effort was to graduate final year medical students 2 – 3 months earlier than usual so that they could start clinical work. The University of Leeds Medical School supported this effort by offering early graduating students a mentor to help them through the challenging period. Peter was one of those to step up to join the scheme as a mentor to newly qualified Foundation Year 1 doctors.
Outside of medicine, he was Vice‐President of the Methodist Conference (2002 ‐ 2003), and Co-Chair of the Joint Commission on the Anglican-Methodist Covenant. He was awarded the Lambeth Cross for Ecumenism by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in 2017.
Our thoughts are with Peter’s family and friends at this time.