Peter Espé (OW 1950)

(16 October 1932 – 1 July 2021)

The following obituary was provided by Peter’s friend Dr Tim King, Honorary OW (former teacher of Biology at MCS)

Peter Espé, who died at the age of 89, was rescued with his Jewish mother from Germany by the Quakers during the Second World War. After reading Chemistry at Christ Church College, Oxford, he taught briefly at Latymer Upper before establishing a career as a society photographer, mixing with the rich and famous.

After polio struck in his twenties he spent much of the rest of his career lecturing at the London School of Printing, teaching the chemistry and history of photography. He retired to Lyneham, Ibiza and North Oxford, maintaining his wide circle of friends from all over the world – there were ninety at his funeral – and retaining his love of Oxford, MCS and the Staniers till the end.