Peter Donaldson, Newsreader and radio broadcaster, Died at 70

  Dead Famous

Peter Ian Donaldson was born on August 23, 1945, and died on November 3, 2015.

He was an Egyptian-born English newsreader on BBC Radio 4.

Peter was born in Cairo, Egypt, and moved to Cyprus in 1952 at the time of the overthrow of King Farouk.

He was a frequent listener to the BBC World Service and the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS).

On his return to Britain, Peter was educated at Woolverstone Hall School, a state boarding school in Suffolk, from the age of 14.

Peter left after taking O-levels at 16 and joined Sadler’s-Wells London in a backstage role.

After working with the New Shakespeare Company at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park, London, and appearing on stage at the Aldwych Theatre London with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Peter went to Sri Lanka to work on a film.

In 1968 his father, who was still living in Cyprus, heard an on-air vacancy for announcers with BFBS and Donaldson applied.

Peter passed the audition and subsequently worked in Cyprus, Aden, Libya and Malta.

In retirement Peter lived in Pulborough, West Sussex, where his interests included gardening, current affairs, drama, walking, swimming and attendance at The Rising Sun pub in Nutbourne.

Peter Donaldson passed away at age 70 in November 2015.