Peter Bush, a former editor turned electronics PR specialist, has died at the age of 85.
He passed away peacefully on 24th August in a residential home on the Isle of Wight, following a cancer diagnosis earlier in the year.
Peter began his career as Managing Editor of a group of journals published by the Institution of Electrical Engineers in the early 1970s. He then moved into public relations, becoming Managing Director of Bush Steadman, the technical PR division of the Saffron Walden-based advertising group run by Evan Steadman. Within three years, Bush Steadman had become one of the leading specialists in electronics PR, working with multinationals including Gould, RCA, and Tektronix, alongside startups from the growing high-tech community around Cambridge.
In 1989, the business was bought by media tycoon Robert Maxwell. Following the collapse of Maxwell’s empire, Steadman’s exhibitions business was taken over by Reed Exhibitions. Bush acquired the PR and marketing arm in 1992, founding Peter Bush Communications, also based in Saffron Walden. In retirement, he continued to write press releases and technical articles and remained a familiar face at client meetings.
Electronic Specifier’s Contributing Editor, Mick Elliott, remembers Peter fondly: “Peter worked both sides of the fence as a journalist and PR, and excelled at both. His technical knowledge was second to none amongst PR people and companies.
“My best memory is Peter wowing an entire club at a karaoke event. Of course he didn’t need the prompter!!! Brilliant.”
Born in Nottingham, Peter attended Worksop College, where he developed a lifelong love of cricket. He met his wife Linda on the Isle of Wight in the 1960s, and the family maintained a close connection with the island over the following decades before Peter and Linda moved there permanently in 2006.
Dawn White, Senior Account Manager, Napier was one of Peter’s former colleagues: “I started working with Peter when I was 17 and he was a great boss to work with, and I have very fond memories of our time together. He will be sadly missed.”
Mike Maynard, Chairman, Napier said: “Peter was an amazing person. I tried for many years to persuade him to sell his agency to me and take it easy. I was lucky. In the end he did, and I was able to work with him. What a privilege.”
He and his family lived in Wendens Ambo, near Saffron Walden, for 30 years. Outside of work, Peter was a model railway enthusiast, a jazz fan, and a talented guitarist and singer. He sang in his church choir and performed regularly with local skiffle and rock and roll bands, and will be particularly remembered for his renditions of Johnny B. Goode, American Pie, and Hoochie Coochie Man.
Nick Foot, CEO, BWW Communications, remembers Peter as being one of the people who gave him his big break at Components in Electronics: “Pete was old school, he did a great job for his clients by building excellent working relationships with all the editors – usually over a pint or a glass of red wine, often at Rules Restaurant in Covent Garden, or the Wig and Pen Club on Fleet Street.
“As well as being a great professional he was very good company. I shared many trips with him to trade shows in Birmingham, Brighton, London, or further afield in Munich and Nuremburg where he was a regular at the Piano Bar at the Maritim Hotel.
“One of the bravest things I have ever seen was Pete doing a karaoke version of the Ode to Billie Joe – in signature Dad jumper – at the end of Brighton pier. Such a hard song anyway, especially in front of a crowd of ‘young things’ expecting the ‘old guy’ to mess it up. Of course he never did, because he’d been a performer all his life. He even did a number at my wedding. He loved all the old blues songs.
“Pete showed me the ropes, was generous to a fault, one of the absolute best. When I raise a glass to his memory, it will be with a smile.”
Peter is survived by his wife Linda, his sons Ben and Toby, and five grandchildren.
The Electronic Specifier team offer their condolences to Peter’s family, friends, and former colleagues.
