Remembering Peter Hughes
4.51-55
Peter attended Malvern College from 1951-1955 where he followed his father and three uncles into No.4. He went on to study dentistry at Manchester University.
Apart from dentistry he was a very keen Rugby player. He had been a player at Oldham RUFC and Kersal RUFC but decided to take up the less dangerous option of refereeing when he acquired his dental practice. He was elected formally, as was the custom at that time, to membership of the Society on 3rd September 1963. There could have been little doubt as to his prospects of being elected as his proposer was the then Society President, H “Biff” Murray Smith of Wilmslow; and his Seconder, Wilf Lord of Toc H.
He was well known for his attention to detail in training – practising movement; whistle; and signalling around the training pitch to simulate match play – a technique now being advocated strongly by sports scientists as best practice – and in presentation on the pitch, often immaculate in all-white kit, including white boot laces – de rigeur in the Manchester Society even in to the 21st century. Peter earned a reputation as an enthusiastic exponent of the application of the Advantage Law, squeezing the most out of every opportunity.
Peter progressed to the County Panel of Referees and served on the Panel for 17 seasons, becoming an International Referee in 1977. That entitled him to wear the RFU Silver Rose blazer badge, which he did with pride. Only many years later, as part of the Wayne Barnes 100 cap celebrations, Peter, along with all the surviving England International Referees, received an International cap.
In 2023, Peter and his wife, Sue, were invited as guests of the IRFU and RFU to the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the Ireland v England match in 1973, at the height of the Troubles and when other International teams declined to play in Ireland. Peter had been the England Touch Judge for the 1973 match and was able to renew old acquaintanceships and reminisce over a landmark match in the history of the Game. At the lunch prior to the 2023 match, the IRFU President introduced Peter as his guest and placed them on the table occupied by the Pullen family.
Peter was one of three International Referee contemporaries in the Society – Alan Welsby; David Leslie (SRU); and Peter. He was also a member of a cohort of distinguished senior Referees including David Hudson; George Seddon; Tony Turner; and others. After his retirement from refereeing at National level, Peter was a Panel Adviser and Assessor undertaking match day observation; debriefing; and report writing as part of the regime for Referee development and the maintenance of refereeing standards, applying the wealth of experience which he had gained as a practitioner at the top level.
For the Society, Peter acted as Midweek Appointments Secretary for a period, worked as an Adviser and was one of the initial cohort of Referee Coaches. Peter established, for the first time in the Society’s history, a Junior Referees Scheme, which was the fore-runner of the current YMO set-up. As Vice-President, Peter was a member of the Centenary Committee, which organised a year-long series of events, culminating in the Centenary Dinner at Bolton Town Hall. Peter succeeded to the Presidency in 2003 and was also made an Honorary Life Member of the Society. In 2013 he received his 50 Year Silver Salver and the extremely rare 60 Year Award in 2023.
Peter’s involvement with the Game was not restricted to refereeing. He was a member of the Calder Vale RUFC, which adopted its current name of Burnley RUFC after 75 years of campaigning under the Calder Vale name. There are those of us who still refer to the Club as Calder Vale. Those who refereed at Calder Vale/Burnley in a certain era would be refreshed post-match from the Referee’s Pot as Peter shared his thoughts on the events of the match. Peter served as the Club’s Fixture Secretary for nine years and as the Club’s Representative to Lancashire CRFU for many years starting in 1964. He served also as Club President.
Peter was also responsible for founding the OM Rugby Club, and was delighted that his old school was able to play competitive Rugby.
Peter was one of Lancashire CRFU’s RFU Council Representatives for 10 years, being granted Distinguished Membership of the RFU on retirement: recognition afforded to very few who had given quite exceptional service to the Game as a whole. Amongst RFU colleagues, he was always appreciated for his wise counsel and insights delivered with his customary charm and good humour. Anyone who attended a match at Twickenham (“Twick’nam”, as Peter pronounced it) soon realised how well-known and well-respected Peter was among senior figures in the Game. He was President of Lancashire CRFU 1996-97. Peter also served on the Schools Union Committee for 18 years, as part of his long-term commitment to Schools Rugby, which included a devotion to the Stonyhurst Sevens. He was also appointed as Assistant Competition Manager running the Volunteers in the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.
Peter also had a long association with the Anti-Assassins, beginning in 1965, in a variety of capacities, ultimately as their President.
Peter’s lifetime of achievement in refereeing and in service to the Game was recognised by the award of the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 2012. That award was in respect of the wide range of rugby activity that Peter undertook, and he should be remembered for all of it.
We will remember Peter with affection for his refereeing exploits, his contribution to refereeing, and also for his determination to continue to participate in Society life for more than 60 years.
A Celebration Service for Peter will take place on Tuesday 3rd February 2026 at St. Peter’s Church, Burnley at 11am, followed by lunch at Burnley RUFC. If you would like to attend, please get in touch to let us know so we can inform the family.
Written by The Manchester & District Referees’ Society