A career that started in the early years of decimilisation!
Peter’s career began in the early 1970s in repertory theatre, working across venues in Peterborough, Leicester, Lancaster and Keswick. He later became Stage Manager at the Cambridge College of Arts and Technology, developing the practical and technical grounding that would make him such an invaluable resource of knowledge in his sales role at AC-ET.
In the early 1980s, he partnered with Jim Laws at Ancient Lights, an established theatre lighting business based in Norfolk. There, he took responsibility across hire, sales, presentations and account management, gaining experience that spanned both technical delivery and commercial leadership.
In the mid-1990s, he began working as a freelance technical consultant, supporting a range of projects including major Lottery-funded bids. In 1998, he joined Elstree Light & Power on a contract basis, overseeing logistics, warehousing and transport.
Over two decades at AC-ET
We finally enticed him to join us in 2004, initially working in external sales from High Wycombe for A.C. Lighting (as it was known then). In 2008, he relocated to the Lake District and became part of the AC-ET North team, where he remained until his retirement.
During his time with us Peter has built enduring relationships, negotiated countless deals and helped clients navigate everything from routine purchases to last-minute, show-critical situations.
From analogue to digital systems, from faxed quotations to instant email, and from simpler setups to increasingly complex technical environments, the industry changed beyond recognition during his extensive tenure. Throughout it all, Peter remained a constant - calmly navigating ongoing change and proving himself a dependable, trusted resource for our clients.
More recently he worked closely with several key customers, supporting the conversion of multiple television studios from tungsten lanterns to LED alternatives.
Clients returned to us not because of brochures or pricing structures, but because they trusted Peter’s judgement, honesty and his ability to make things happen.
“Peter represents the very best of this industry - trusted, knowledgeable and quietly dependable. His relationships with clients were built over years, not transactions, and that legacy will stay with AC-ET long after his retirement.”
“From the day I started in the company 11 years ago Peter has been a continuous source of help and support, always extremely generous in sharing his knowledge and helping to train me, and many other new members of the team over the years.”
Thank you, Peter
The Board of Directors and the wider AC-ET team would like to thank Peter sincerely for his contribution over the years and wish him every happiness in retirement. We hope he now has all the time he needs to pursue his interests as a photographer, exploring the coast around Whitby and as a motorsport enthusiast, attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the British Touring Car Championships. We may well bump into him at Silverstone!