A Life Dedicated to Learning and Television
The education and broadcasting worlds are mourning the loss of Peter Griffiths, a passionate educator who became an award-winning television producer, who has died at the age of 86 from a brain tumour. In a final act consistent with his lifelong commitment to learning, he bequeathed his body to medical education.
From Classroom to Screen: An Illustrious Career
Griffiths' profound impact on education began at the chalkface. During the 1960s, he served as an English teacher at Forest Hill and Upton House comprehensive schools in London. His academic journey continued at Furzedown College of Education, where he worked as a lecturer in English for nearly ten years, followed by a role supporting London teachers at the Ilea English Centre between 1976 and 1978.
His career took a pivotal turn in 1978 when he moved into television schools programmes. He became a key figure at Thames TV until 1992, where he worked on notable series such as The English Programme. He continued this pioneering work at Double Exposure (1992-1996) before finishing his career as a freelancer, retiring in 1998.
His television work garnered significant critical acclaim. In 1987, he won an International Emmy for the TV film The Belle of Amherst. Seven years later, in 1994, he received a Royal Television Society award for best education programme (secondary) for his role as director and producer of a documentary adaptation of My Left Foot. His talent was further recognised with Bafta nominations for his programmes on The Caucasian Chalk Circle (1986) and Brighton Rock (1989).
Early Life, Family, and Enduring Passions
Born in Harlow, Essex, just months before the Second World War, Peter was the eldest of four sons. His father, Ken Griffiths, served with the Grenadier Guards before becoming a police officer, while his mother, Vera, worked variously as a school secretary, post office clerk, and in a bar.
Growing up in the south-east Essex villages of Little Wakering and Great Wakering, he attended Barling school and Southend high school for boys. He initially embarked on a maths degree at Birmingham University but switched paths to gain a teaching qualification at Goldsmiths College, London, where he graduated as top academic student.
It was during his training that he met his future wife; the couple married in 1961. While working as a teacher, he diligently continued his own education, earning an English degree from Birkbeck College, followed by a master’s from the Institute of Education. Even in retirement, his scholarly pursuits continued, culminating in a diploma from the Institute for Heraldic and Genealogical Studies.
A committed socialist and humanist, Griffiths was secretary of Action for the Community of Tooting in the 1970s and 80s and was part of a collective that published the progressive magazine Teaching London Kids. For many years, he was a member of the Communist party and co-edited the book Cuba: The Second Decade with his brother John in 1978.
Beyond his professional and political life, he was a man of diverse interests, sharing his love for art, jazz, theatre, world cinema, travel, and birdwatching with a wide circle of friends. He also held a lifelong passion for cricket, fondly recalling watching Essex bowl out the great Australian team in 1948.
Peter Griffiths is survived by his wife, their two daughters, Melanie and Jilly, three grandchildren, Ellis, Sonny and Romilly, and two of his brothers, John and David.
