Peter Toyne (academic)

Toyne was born in 1939, near Rotherham. He was offered a place, and educated at Ripon Grammar School, where he became head boy and sang in the cathedral choir. Late he attended the University of Bristol where he studied geography.

Peter Toyne was a senior lecturer in geography at the University of Exeter before deciding to leave in 1978 in order to become head of Bishop Otter College, Chichester, and then later becoming Rector of North East London Polytechnic (now: University of East London).

In 1986, he left South England for Liverpool, where he became the founding First Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University. At the time of his moving to Liverpool, the city was at its lowest; however Toyne became involved with the city, including taking an interest in the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral where he became a council member and Life President of the Liverpool Organists Association, President of the Liverpool YMCA, Chairman of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society and Honorary Colonel of 33 Signal TA Regiment. Toyne later helped to co-author and chair Liverpool's bid for the 2008 European Capital of Culture.

Between 2001 and 2002, Peter served as the High Sheriff of Merseyside. He was made a CBE for his work in regenerating Liverpool, and in 2010 was awarded freedom of the city by the council.[2]

• Choirbook Trust - Chairman
• Friends of Cathedral Music
• Liverpool John Moores University