Nigel Thomas, Department of Childood Studies, Swansea University
Although I knew Peter slightly when he was with the National Schizophrenia Fellowship and then with Childline, I got to know him much better following his appointment as Children’s Commissioner. Almost the first thing I asked him then was ‘What are you going to do about researching your work?’ In fact Peter was hugely committed to having a proper evaluation of the work of the CCfW, and even more committed to children and young people being at the heart of that evaluation. When we could not obtain external funding for the research, he found the money from his own budget to enable us to start work. The members of our young steering group were always very keen to meet Peter and discuss the project with him. When this finally happened last October, Peter was not looking at all well, but he was totally engaged with the project and we all got so much from meeting him. Peter’s love and respect for children and young people ran through everything he did. He was a lovely man, and he will be missed for a long time by many people.