Peter Tunnicliffe
Attended Tupton Hall School and started playing rugby at age 13/14 in 1968. In 1974 went to Teacher Training College at Carnegie School of Physical Education in Leeds. Met wife Marjorie at college and they ended up teaching in Derby. Pete at Noel Baker and Marjorie at Merrill. They lived in Hartington Street and later moved to Kilburn. After visiting some friends in Melbourne they decided it would be a nice place to live and subsequently moved to Melbourne.
Pete knew of Melbourne Rugby Club as he was playing for Belper on Saturdays, and joined the summer training at Brook Farm in 1982/83, becoming 1st Team Captain in 1984.
A long coaching history started with 16 year old Pete coaching at School. He became a qualified Rugby Union and Rugby League coach in 1976, under the tutelage of Ian McGeechan. Was Derbyshire U15s Coach and Selector 1980-82. Melbourne Minis Coach 1992-98. Melbourne Minxes Coach 2003-06.
Six other Derbyshire Clubs feature in Pete’s playing history:- Tuptonians, Chesterfield, Amber Valley, Derby, Belper, Matlock.
But Pete is prouder of the achievements of his children. Ben played for Leicestershire Schools, Derbyshire and NLD Three Counties while at School. Daughter Charlotte was part of a team which won a tournament to have the honour of being the first to play a competitive girls match at Twickenham.

Playing history
Started playing at school, Tupton Hall, at 13/14years of age (1968/7)
Started playing senior rugby at 15years of age
Old Tuptonians 1969/70
Chesterfield 1973
Amber Valley 1973
Derbyshire 1974/75 (Six Counties Champions)
Derby 1977
Belper 1980
Melbourne 1982/3
1984? First team Captain
Established Melbourne Vets 1993/4

Coaching history
Started coaching while still at school 16years of age
Became a qualified Rugby Union and Rugby League coach 1976 – did RFU Coaching award with Ian McGeechan
Became a PE teacher and coached school sides from 1977 Derbyshire Schools Under 15’s Coach and Selector 1980-82
Melbourne minis coach 1992/93-1998
Melbourne Minxes coach 2003-2006
(All dates approximate)

Comment:
After 40 years I retired from playing, coaching and refereeing approximately 2008. During this time I represented six Derbyshire clubs, two of which were just being established, and had the privilege of knowing and playing with members some of Derbyshire rugby playing family dynasties:
- the Hamiltons, Ian and Stuart at Derby
- the Kennings, Phil and Jim at Chesterfield
- the Lucas’, Richard and Roger at Derby, and
- the Hickmores and Hartleys from Old Baileans

1.First position played : Fly half/Stand Off

2.Worst injury: Torn knee ligaments

3.Best player played with: Stuart/Ian Hamilton – Derby

4.Best person for post-match fun: Gary Fawcett

5.Nickname: Tunafish

6.Bad habit: Not knowing when had enough to drink!

7.Sporting hero: Barry John (greatest fly half) Ian McGeechan (greatest coach) Nigel Owens (greatest referee and man of courage)

8.Non-sporting hero: My Dad, Bill Tunnicliffe

9.Favourite meal: Fish and chips

10.Favourite film: Bourne identity (Jason Bourne film series)

11.Favourite book: Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (five book series)

12.Who would you like to have a conversation with: Michael Collins, and ask him what it is really like to be all alone on the dark side of the moon with no contact with anyone else on earth?

13.Desert island object: bottle opener, to be able to send out a ‘Rescue Me’ message

14.Dream job: Teaching PE

15.No one knows: When I was 11 I impaled my foot by stabbing through it with a garden fork

16.A phrase that reflects my life: Tried hard, almost made it!

17.Sport wish I had tried: Ironman Triathlon, when I could run

18. Who would you like to see interviewed: Guy Judge (Melbourne Mini’s Chair)

19.Future wish for MRFC: To be seen to be more of an equal partner with other sports teams in the Melbourne community and encourage wider participation in a greater variety of accessible sporting activities and events

20.Melbourne dream team: (people, male and female, I have played with, coached and watched – some are slightly out of position, and others we should just not forget!)
1.Roger Lucas 9.Jake Oxspring
2.Gary Fawcett 10.Chris Walters
3.Pete Burchill 11.Jo Cherry/Mallard
4.Dave Bonner 12.Colin Jackson
5.Keith Bonner 13. Taysia Marsh
6.Keith Guymer 14.Jo Laban
8.Ian Lucas 15.Dean Sylvester
7.Pete Lewsey