Peter had always been interested in catering and really enjoyed cooking. When his mothers father was alive they would sometimes go and visit. Peter was always interested because he had been in the Royal Navy and Peter's mother still had two brothers, Joe and Ben, who were still serving in the Royal Navy. It was this and his Scout Cruise onboard the Nevassa that influenced his decision to combine catering and Royal Navy. Peter made enquiries, went for interviews and medicals and was accepted. Peter left Blackheath Bluecoat School in 1971 and filled in the time working as a Chef at the Greenwich District Hospital until he got his date for joining the Royal Navy (27/9/1971). Peter had to go down to Torpoint in Plymouth to join HMS Raleigh. Peter completed six weeks of basic training there before moving off to HMS Pembroke in Chatham for a further six weeks training as a cook. Whilst Peter was at Chatham he was selected by the Instructors to be on the team of Chef's that would be representing the Royal Navy at Hotelympia in London. After spending about three weeks training for this event, Peter eventually went to Olympia and had to prepare a complete meal in one hour in front of an audience of about 400 people, competing against others at the same time. At the end of the event the results were announced and Peter had been awarded the Gold Medal and the "John Gregson Challenge Trophy". Before Peter finished his basic training he was told that he was being drafted to HMS Excellent to be one of four Chefs to cater exclusively for the Portsmouth Command Field Gun Crew and to accompany the crew when they took part in the Royal Tounament at Earls Court for the 1972 performances. Later on in his career in the Royal Navy Peter travelled extensively to all countries around the Mediterranean, and Europe, often visiting places more than once. He was serving aboard HMS Devonshire in Cyprus in 1974 during the Turkish invasion of the islands. Peter had many stories about his time in the Navy. He served on HMS Devonshire, HMS Upton, HMS Wotton, and HMS Fearless. He left the Navy in 1979 as a Leading Cook with Exemplary Service