Born in Rowlands Gill partway between Newcastle and Consett (that’s up North), he played rugby at school where the Games master was Colin White, an England prop of some repute whose touch rugby sessions always ended up in full contact.
After his degree in Metallurgy and Engineering at Newcastle University he worked in Research and Development for Northern Engineering Industries from 1984 where, by 1994, the 3,500 workforce had dwindled to just 90. Now owned by Rolls Royce the workforce continued to decline to just 6 whereupon Pete was offered a job working for RR in Derby. The week before Christmas 1998 saw Pete and family moving to Melbourne where son Gareth played rugby for Chellaston School in his first week at the school, and swiftly ensconced in the Melbourne M&Js.
Pete started coaching but a heart transplant in 2003 necessitated a step back until, whilst recovering, all the other M&J coaches were away on a course and Pete was asked to baby sit the Sunday training session. Thus roped back into coaching Pete took his age group through from 12 to Colts.
Grandfather Robert Graham Lowes was a professional sprinter in the 1920s who Pete remembers being told used to run the heats with lead insoles in his shoes, then remove them for the final.

First position you played in rugby - Full Back, but didn't take long to get into the action as a blind side.

Worst injury - Knee ligaments.

Best player you played with at MRFC or elsewhere - have to put my son Gareth in here after playing alongside him after my heart transplant.

Best person for post-match drinks, fun and frolics - Probably Bengo

What should your nickname be - Scoop

What bad habit do you have - The one that annoys the missus most--- My wardrobe is on the floor

Your sporting hero - Mike Teague

Your non-sporting hero - The Duke of Wellington, after all he did stuff Napoléon and has many fine hostelries named after him.

Favourite food/meal - Curry

Favourite TV programme/film - The Quiet Man.

Favourite book - What else but Wellington’s Peninsular Victories.

Who dead or alive would you like to have a conversation with - Desmond TuTu

You can take either a book, music or a tool to a desert island. Which, and what would it be - Sex Pistols collection.

Dream job - Warm up act for a porn star.

Tell me something about you that no one knows - An incident at Durty Nellies, Shannon Ireland, (What goes on tour Stays on Tour).

A phrase that reflects your life - Life is not a rehearsal.

What sport do you wish you’d tried -Diving (health warning:- I can’t swim)

Who would you like to see interviewed for this article - Tony Day after a few Dragon Soops.

Your wish for the future of MRFC - An Academy building on our own land and the development of home grown players to make us competitive at Midland 1 level

Your Melbourne Dream Team of players past and present

Regardless of the number on the shirt a team for the ages and great craic in the bar. The forwards telling stories of great 2 yard jinking runs to score a try, and the backs bragging of how they suddenly developed super human strength to push over a driving maul.

Roger Lucas
Ian Lucas
Bengo
Gary Fawcett
Dave Bonner
Dennis Smith
Ducky Mallard
Pete Welsh
Tony Day
Brian Barber
Colin Topliss
Nigel Breakwell
Olly Page
Deano
Willie John Mcbride Capt (It is my DREAM team and as he has been presented with a MRFC tie during Lions tour of SA he counts and who else could keep this team of misfits and miscreants in order.)
Finally we need 3 subs to cover all eventualities and potential mayhem generated by the Dream team.

A dentist:---Pete Illott
A Doctor:---Dave Thomas
A Lawyer:--John James.