Brook, Peter

Peter had a very distinctive, deep, rich voice.  He was an announcer at Southern TV (1969 – 1971) and a newsreader for BBC Norwich’s Look East.

He moved to BBC Television Centre in 1971, taking on a network announcer post.  He would remain in that role for 30 years, before taking redundancy and retiring in 2001.

Sadly, Peter died following a sixteen-month battle with cancer, aged 63.  A memorial service was held on 19th May 2007 and his brother-in-law Simon Brett, broadcaster and writer of radio and TV comedies, gave the main address.

Former Tomorrow’s World producer and director Michael Blakstad wrote about Peter for the East Meon History:

“Simon chronicled Peter’s ‘global’ career, starting in East Meon and moving to New Zealand in his twenties.  His glorious voice and English accent found favour with local radio stations, so that is where he got his first experience behind a microphone.

“Peter decided to return home at a time when the New Zealand government was anxious to attract more residents and offered citizenship in return for completing a single form, so Peter became a Kiwi as well as a Brit.  He came back to Hampshire, joined the BBC as an announcer, met Mirabel and married her.

“Simon told tales of the aplomb with which Peter would switch from snoozing or listening to cricket commentaries, to fully alert conduct of the broadcast omnibus even in times of crisis.

“Peter and Mirabel moved to Lythe House and started a tripartite working pattern which would have left most of us gasping.  They developed outhouses as luxury self-catering apartments while Peter made a business out of his passion for wine by starting Hampshire Wine Shippers, a cornucopia of well-chosen French varieties which led to many an addiction among other villagers.

“The Brooks earned a paragraph in the history books by being the first British couple to adopt three children, Alexi, Anton and Anna, direct from a Moscow orphanage.  Their lives were heavily influenced by the needs of these three and when they decided to go to New Zealand it was partly to provide a liberal and caring environment for them.  Peter and Mirabel bought a ‘batch’ – a plot of land near Havelock North in the Hawke’s Bay area.

“They then found a suitable house which was transported on low-loaders to Cape South.  Another house was later added as part of a small colony of wonderful self-catering cottages.

“No sooner was Cape South in shape and visitors starting to arrive, than Peter was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer.  He had superb care, especially in the hospice in Havelock North and Peter and Mirabel came to Europe in September last year to meet friends and family in the near-certain knowledge that this would be Peter’s last visit and to visit their favourite holiday home in Cyprus.

“Peter said firmly that he also wanted to attend the 2012 Olympics, an unquenchable spirit and a redoubtable son of East Meon.”

Personal information

Clips of Peter on The TV Room

Peter may be featured in video/audio clips on our other websites. Click the links below to display a listing (a 404 error will appear if no clips are found):

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Online presence

Acknowledgements