Peter COOKE Obituary

Judy Cooke Please can You get in touch with me Rachael O'Dea(nee Brinson)I sent you an email a few days ago but you have not responded so my email might be in your junk email foldet

Thanks to Nick Crowther for sending this photo.

Such sad news. Peter called me out of the blue in 1986 to start a musical partnership that lasted 4 years spanning Auckland and Melbourne. We clicked & quickly became great friends. Despite being a little younger and less travelled than me, he was clearly wiser and more evolved. His thirst for learning and knowledge (the more arcane, the better) was an inspiration. And his talent, intelligence and grace undeniable. He was always good company with a whimsical sense of humour and a poet´s turn of phrase. We went our separate ways 25 years ago, but Peter is a person you don´t forget, and I reckon I have missed him ever since. Thanks to Anna for forwarding the link to this Obituary and condolences to all who loved him.

You swept me off my feet and we ran away together.
You broke my heart but of course I forgave you.
I am so devastated by your loss and miss your long phone calls.
Missing you

Rachael, please phone me on 0210356833 or email at [email protected] I am Peter's sister Judy and I taught your wee boy, now probably a young man at Ilam School as a new entrant. I always remember Jonny arriving in the classroom one day to collect his nephew and to our surprise another connection made. So many memories of past but more than happy to talk about things that are important to you at this time. Kindest regards, Judy Cooke

Condolences to family for the loss of Peter.I am in real shock, can't believe he has passed away , only just found out now.Can't believe one of The Wastrels is gone.Hoping some one close friend or family member can get in touch with me as I have questions

Sharing these photos of Peter taken in 1992 with indie band `The Bells´. We played mainly in inner Sydney with Peter on lead guitar X

My wonderful friend, bandmate and co-composer of many songs and string arrangements.
So sad the reunion of the Wastrels won´t happen now.
Best guitarist ever. He made one sound like three.
Rest now my buddy.
Richie Wastrel.

Peter and I entered the NZ music scene together in the early 1980s with a couple of other Wastrels. We wrote songs together, we drank, and we dreamed of a future in the way only young men untrammeled by the inevitable defeats of life can. They seemed like easy times. We toured the country and had many adventures. Peter would come to me with ideas for songs and more often than not I would rewrite the lyrics so I could sing them with authenticity. He was far more poetic than me.
Our last attempt to embark on a musical project together was a mariachi-style duo. The challenge for me was to learn enough Spanish, and I think the challenge for Peter was to move away from his own material. We did manage to get a song together and practice it before the idea was abandoned. In the back of my mind, I always thought there would be another opportunity to do something musical with him.

Anton Jenner

Thank you Peter for hosting me for the night of the Melbourne Cup in your tiny flat in Melbourne circa 1998. It was my first night in my life "oversees" and I was homeless. I will never forget your kindness. The next day you pointed me in the direction of Brunswick St. So I went and got myself a flat, some friends, a job and a life in Fitzroy! Top tip from a great guy. Thank you so much for that wonderful kindness.

Peter and I, London mid-1990s

Peter and Anna watching me play very poor cricket, Kent UK 1997

Peter playing with his band Watershed, Melbourne 1990

My favourite photo of Peter and Anna. Melbourne 1990

Peter and Roger in London

Peter was a very charming man, he was also a thinker, a musician and a wonderful cook (no pun intended). Foremost though, Peter was a dear dear friend. 
We met at the end of the 1980s, living together in a mixed flat in North Melbourne and instantly became very good friends. Then when he moved in with Anna a short time later I was always a very regular visitor to their place. It was a wonderfully crazy time. We were all very heavily into music and Peter's ability on the guitar was a godsend to a keen musical pretender like myself. And although his hopes for an active musical career in Melbourne didn't eventuate as he may have hoped, thankfully I did witness one of the few gigs of his band, Watershed, in Melbourne in 1991. It still stands up as one of the most impressive gigs I have seen. In a nutshell, Peter was a quite brilliant songsmith.
A few years later, in the early 90s I shifted to Germany, but thankfully, it was only a matter of time before he and Anna also gravitated to this part of the world, settling in London. That led to a further 10 years of close contact. I would cross the channel regularly to visit them, just as they would me and my young family, with Peter being best man at my wedding in July 2000.
One of my favourite memories of that time was Peter taking a day off so he could drive me around the city, explaining the modern and not so modern history of many of its inner suburbs. His enthusiasm for the place and historical analysis of its past was as meticulous as it was infectious. 
Face to face contact regretfully dropped off when both he and Anna returned to Australia, but we called regularly and I was aware of the enormous help he provided at that time for Anna's Mum, Peg. When Peter returned to NZ we continued calling, but in hindsight not nearly as regularly as we should have.
I am terribly sad about your passing mate, it was many many years too soon.  I love you my dear friend and will forever cherish the very fine times we had together.  And there were many of them. Rest in peace.

Peter in Adelaide in 2021, reading the paper and having coffee.

Gavin and I were so terribly sorry to hear of the loss of Peter. We got to know Peter when he married our dear cousin Anna.
Peter's conversation was witty and interesting as his intelligence always shone through. He was also a talented musician, linguist and chef.
Peter was someone who always cared for others. I shall never forget the beautiful relationship that Peter had with Peg and how he and Anna were so devoted to caring for Peg.
Peter shall always be remembered with great fondness by all our family.

I was lucky enough to meet Pater when we were young in Sydney. He was an open man with an open heart and open mind. We became friends and it was easy and mutual. I did not know of his dislike for eggs, but he taught me how to mix eggs for custard. We went on a weekend away on my last day of my university degree and as others have said we ate like kings on account of his wonderful cooking. Like others have mentioned he and Anna hosted me and my family many times.
I spoke with him on host birthday this year and as always he was philosophical about life and thoughtful about all things. I recounted to him how he had influenced me in life. A lovely man and friend. My warmest thoughts go to his family and loved ones. Vale Peter Cooke.

Peter in Madrid. One of my favourite photos.

Thank you so much Peter for contributing to my creativity. You were a great friend and thank you for including me with fun times with Anna. Wishing you an amazing next trip.

A beautiful man..multi talented...such a tremendous loss. I have many wonderful memories of Peter in Adelaide..Melbourne..Sydney..London..drinking..listening to music..talking..eating..usually sitting around a table w him and Anna after a delicious meal cooked by him. I particularly remember how kind and caring he was towards my dear friend Peg Cherry. All my love and sympathy to Anna and his family in N.Z....Bev McFarlane

Peter in Barcelona

I am just devastated. Peter was my true love, my husband, my best friend, my travelling companion and the man I went to for advise ( and proof reading). We met in 1986 in Melbourne and became inseparable almost immediately. Even though we parted as husband and wife, we have always been in each others hearts.
He was adored by my mother Peg and no man could have done more for their mother-in law. She admired his vast intelligence, shared his love of literature and sense of humour.
So many friends speak of his love of music, food, literature and languages.
Peter was self taught at many things, only going to University later in life. He was fluent in Spanish and received a BA with First Class Honours in Hispanic studies in 2003 from the University of London and in 2009 completed his PHD. Peter wrote many papers and contributed to publications as well as translating for Spanish academics. He lectured at Birkbeck College. He had a working knowledge of Catalan, Portuguese, German, Italian, French and a little Greek and Latin.
Peter always had a stack of books on the go and his beloved guitars close at hand. He was so proud of The Wastrels. He loved music, playing it, sharing it, enjoying the music of others. He was a brilliant guitarist and exceptional song writer. Where ever we went in the world he played a gig or open mike night. He would have a look of wonderous delight when ever he played.
His love of food and hatred of eggs was legendary. We had so many wonderful dinners with friends. He loved sharing his cooking his father, mother and family in New Zealand.
I will think of Peter everyday as I have done for 36 years. My heart goes out to his dear mother Gwen and his family. He was a very proud son, brother and exceptionally proud uncle. The best and kindest of men, my dearest Peter. I will love and miss you forever.

Such sad news. Pete and I made music together in Sydney in the early 90s and he and Anna were wonderful hosts and friends. Pete was a true musician and I will never forget his genuine passionate love of guitars. He was also wonderful chef and I will never forget his genuine passionate hatred of eggs. Rest in peace Pete. no more benedicts now. .

I am so sorry to hear this sad news about the beautiful Peter. I met Peter through my childhood friend, his girlfriend, then wife, Anna when I moved to Sydney in 1993. He and Anna graciously welcomed me into their home and their hearts, and in those few months in Sydney I lived with them sleeping in their spare room on Macleay Street, the one in which if you angled the wardrobe mirror just right you could see into the kitchen of the Pig and Olive across the road where Peter worked. Peter and Anna were the consummate hosts -- there was always wine (red if it was winter, white if it was summer), delicious food and song for the guitar was never far from where Peter was sitting. I was in awe at Peter's intelligence: he could speak Spanish and Greek (which I believe he taught himself) and he was a great chef who appeared to effortlessly cook up amazing feasts from scratch. We caught up over the years in London, in Melbourne, in Sydney but not often enough. Thank you Peter for all the great feasts, late-night conversations, singalongs, and for teaching me how to shuck oysters. You are missed.

Oh Peter,
I am really sad to hear, you are gone.... And will never forgot the care and love you gave to Anna and Peg. And your talent behind the stove. We had very good moments. Good bye my Friend, and Dear God, please look after him. Cecile and Peter.

I cannot say how sad I am. I met Peter in 2016 at The Diner on Chapel Street, Melbourne. We bonded over music and became friends (we were neighbors by about three streets). Until he moved back to NZ we spent many hours playing music and talking about his love of Spain and London. During this time he single-handedly recorded a stunning album called "All Sun & Blood" and put a demo of it on Soundcloud:
https://soundcloud.com/peter-cooke-526028467/tracks

I have a version on CD that I would gladly share with family. I will upload to Bandcamp and share via this page. I spoke to Peter as recently as July, at his home in Christchurch. I wish to send his mum and family my best wishes. He was a cool guy, and I am lucky to have met him. RIP Peter Mate

My friend
Thank you for your generosity .
The endless narrative of conversation that has lasted 48 years .
From primary school , sports teams , teenage hedonism , literally my best man .
An honour and privilege .
You will be missed .
Love and sympathy to Gwen and family .

I was 13 years old, Peter was one of big brothers friends. I had just discovered music and bands... he was by far the COOLEST of them all. I got to know him better throughout the 80's and he totally inspired me to write/play music which I did and a result found a career for the next 20 years. He was incredibly talented, hugely soulful and amazingly inclusive and welcoming to a skinny little teenager who, to this day, remembers him fondly. I remain grateful for the time he took with me to encourage me and the 'cool' he brought to the equation that set the bench mark for me that very few have matched. Beautiful human! Love to all of you miss him.

I remember walking on the beach at Kai Iwi with you.....sunshine, fresh air and good conversation. Go in peace......rest in peace. With love Sue