Peter studied economics at the University of London and then undertook research work into the economics of screening for breast cancer. He next spent 11 years lecturing in economics at the Queen's University of Belfast before moving to Latymer Upper School in London as Head of Economics in 1990.
He was ordained a permanent deacon in the Roman Catholic Church in 1997 and since 2000 has been Chaplain at Latymer.
His interest in hymns was first manifest at the age of 8 when, as a chorister, he would regularly criticise the choirmaster and clergy for their poor choice of hymns. He was extremely popular!