Summary
Peter Holton Roberts, MBE (7 June 1924 – 15 November 2006) was an animal welfare activist and the founder of Compassion in World Farming, which he led from 1967 – 1991.
Peter H. Roberts | |
|---|---|
| Born | 7 June 1924 Rugeley, Staffordshire, England |
| Died | 15 November 2006 (aged 82) |
| Occupation | Activist |
| Known for | Founding Compassion in World Farming |
Biography edit
Peter Roberts was the son of a Staffordshire doctor and was raised in Rugeley. After serving in World War II, he attended an agricultural college and established a dairy farm in Hampshire. As demand in Britain rose for meat, Roberts saw increasing use of factory farming, which had been imported from the United States. Encouraged by popular support for his letter-writing campaign, Roberts unsuccessfully attempted to convince existing animal welfare organizations to protest intensive farming. As a result, he founded Compassion in World Farming in 1967. He gave up dairy farming the same year, and he established a health food shop in Petersfield in 1978. He led the organization until 1991, when he retired and was replaced by Joyce D'Silva. Although Roberts was a vegetarian, he did not push for others to change their eating habits.[1][2][3] He was an advocate of reasoned debate and sought change through peaceful means.[4]
He was awarded an MBE in 2002 for his work associated with Compassion in World Farming.[5]
References edit
- ^ "Peter Roberts". The Daily Telegraph. 4 December 2006. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ D'Silva, Joyce (22 November 2006). "Peter Roberts". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ "Last Word". BBC Radio 4. 8 December 2006. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
- ^ "Peter Roberts". The Economist. 30 November 2006. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- ^ "Honours for England: The South". BBC News. 14 June 2002. Retrieved 23 February 2014.