Anne Crowley
I will miss Peter as a friend and work colleague. We first met on the board of Voices from Care many moons ago. Peter’s unswerving commitment to the agency and value of children and young people was evident then and it continued to be his trade mark and made him an obvious choice for our first Children’s Commissioner. Where he differed from most – even some of those who most vigorously espouse the rights of children – was the way he spoke both to and about children and young people - as fully fledged human beings. He was never patronizing or tokenistic – he did really respect children and young people and it showed.

That quality came through at his interview for the post of Children’s Commissioner – he certainly wasn’t the bookie’s favourite candidate but he so impressed the young people and politicians alike with his sincerity, compassion and strength he was the clear front runner.

In that first year as our first children’s champion - he was virtually on his own. He had no staff as yet and he was the first Children’s Commissioner in the UK. He was a pioneer – in unknown territory. Asked by the media at least once a day what he thought about x or y - he was impressive. Making quick but sound decisions about what an independent champion for children should and could do. He wasn’t about to be pushed off course by the demands and expectations placed upon him by others who thought that they knew better what a Children’s Commissioner should do and say.

But, and this is one of things that was so amazing about him - he never got too big for his boots or forgot who he was – he always remembered why he was there and the appropriate use of his considerable power. He always thought that despite what it said on the statute book - he was really accountable to the children of Wales and that he must do right by them. Peter often said he felt it was a privilege to be the Commissioner for the children of Wales, I feel it was a privilege to have known and worked with him over the last 15 years.

Peter will definitely be a hard act to follow and he will be sorely missed - but as he would want - his legacy will definitely live on.