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Bill Peters obituary Bill Peters obituary
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My stepfather, Bill Peters, who has died aged 90, was a diplomat who inspired the young Kofi Annan and, in retirement, campaigned successfully for the cancellation of debt in poorer countries.My stepfather, Bill Peters, who has died aged 90, was a diplomat who inspired the young Kofi Annan and, in retirement, campaigned successfully for the cancellation of debt in poorer countries.
His dedication to public service led him to co-found – with Martin Dent, a retired lecturer in politics at the University of Keele – the hugely influential Jubilee 2000 Drop the Debt campaign. The two men shared a concern at what both considered to be unsustainable levels of debt in developing nations. This crystallised into the campaign to write off such debts in time for the millennium.His dedication to public service led him to co-found – with Martin Dent, a retired lecturer in politics at the University of Keele – the hugely influential Jubilee 2000 Drop the Debt campaign. The two men shared a concern at what both considered to be unsustainable levels of debt in developing nations. This crystallised into the campaign to write off such debts in time for the millennium.
Jubilee 2000, which was based on the biblical tradition of debt amnesty, won the support of the archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, and of Gordon Brown, then chancellor of the exchequer, who pledged that debts to the UK of developing countries would be cancelled.Jubilee 2000, which was based on the biblical tradition of debt amnesty, won the support of the archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey, and of Gordon Brown, then chancellor of the exchequer, who pledged that debts to the UK of developing countries would be cancelled.
Bill continued to be active in the ensuing Drop the Debt campaign, which lobbied G8 summits all over the world, and spoke personally to the Japanese prime minister, Keizo Obuchi. Jubilee 2000 was also a foundation stone of the Make Poverty History movement.Bill continued to be active in the ensuing Drop the Debt campaign, which lobbied G8 summits all over the world, and spoke personally to the Japanese prime minister, Keizo Obuchi. Jubilee 2000 was also a foundation stone of the Make Poverty History movement.
Bill was born at Morpeth, Northumberland, the son of a cabinet-maker and a singer of light opera. At 17 he was offered a place at Oxford to study classics and philosophy, but the second world war intervened. In 1944, he married his first wife, Catherine Bailey, known as Kit, before deployment to Burma, where he served with the 9th Ghurkha rifles. Bill was born at Morpeth, Northumberland, the son of a cabinet-maker and a singer of light opera. At 17 he was offered a place at Oxford to study classics and philosophy, but the second world war intervened. In 1944, he married his first wife, Catherine Bailey, known as Kit, before deployment to Burma, where he served with the 9th Gurkha rifles.
After the war, he returned to take up his place at Balliol, completing his studies in 1948. He then joined the Colonial Service with a posting to the Gold Coast in 1950, where he worked to prepare for the transition to independence and was invited by the new Ghanaian leadership to remain in an advisory capacity.After the war, he returned to take up his place at Balliol, completing his studies in 1948. He then joined the Colonial Service with a posting to the Gold Coast in 1950, where he worked to prepare for the transition to independence and was invited by the new Ghanaian leadership to remain in an advisory capacity.
Bill decided his career lay with the diplomatic service and the Foreign Office, and he took up postings in Cyprus, Australia, South America and India as well as to other African countries. During this time, invited to speak to local pupils, he stressed that they could achieve anything they set out to do. This speech proved inspiring to the school-age Kofi Annan, who was in the audience. When they met, many years later, the then secretary general of the United Nations told Bill that he had made a lasting impression.Bill decided his career lay with the diplomatic service and the Foreign Office, and he took up postings in Cyprus, Australia, South America and India as well as to other African countries. During this time, invited to speak to local pupils, he stressed that they could achieve anything they set out to do. This speech proved inspiring to the school-age Kofi Annan, who was in the audience. When they met, many years later, the then secretary general of the United Nations told Bill that he had made a lasting impression.
In 2001 Bill received the Gandhi international peace award from the Gandhi Foundation in recognition of the Jubilee 2000 campaign, which, the citation explained, "made possible the provision of basic education and healthcare to thousands of people".In 2001 Bill received the Gandhi international peace award from the Gandhi Foundation in recognition of the Jubilee 2000 campaign, which, the citation explained, "made possible the provision of basic education and healthcare to thousands of people".
In later years, Bill retained his keen interest in politics and continued to be an active supporter of the campaign and of other charities. In 1998, his wife, Kit, died after a brief illness; in 2004 he married Gillian Casebourne. Bill is survived by Gill and her daughters, Imogen and me, nieces and nephews.In later years, Bill retained his keen interest in politics and continued to be an active supporter of the campaign and of other charities. In 1998, his wife, Kit, died after a brief illness; in 2004 he married Gillian Casebourne. Bill is survived by Gill and her daughters, Imogen and me, nieces and nephews.