The Fund is saddened to announce the passing of Peter Callander, a volunteer Trustee of the PRS for Music Members Benevolent Fund and award-winning songwriter and record producer.

Peter had worked with many well-known names including Tom Jones, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Lulu and Cliff Richard. His work with Mitch Murray resulted in some well known hits including Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha by Cliff Richard, The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde released by Georgie Fame, and Hitchin’ a Ride by Vanity Fare.

Peter Callander’s untimely death is a great loss to both the PRS for Music Members Benevolent Fund and to the music industry as a whole. As a volunteer trustee he worked hard to ensure that fellow writers received support in times of need. We will all miss him.

Peter had been a director of the PRS and the MCPS for over 20 years and had been a trustee of the Fund since 1991. Members of the Fund’s Committee of Management had this to say;

“This is shocking and tragic news, particularly as we were all with Peter at the recent Fund meeting where he was full of life and his usual vim and vigour.” – Sarah Rodgers.

“I am finding it hard to take in, as I think we all must be. Peter had such a presence, he was not somebody you could ignore. He was a lovely person and will be very much missed by all of us.”-Lynsey De Paul

The trustees, Committee of Management and staff offer sincere condolences to Peter’s wife, Connie and his son Jason.