Peter Townsend: 6 April 1928 – 8 June 2009

Peter Townsend was CPAG’s co-founder, for many years our chair of Trustees, and our President. As an academic he led the development of social policy research in the UK over the post-war period, focusing on UK and international analysis and in particular driving forward the recognition of the relative nature of poverty and deprivation. Though we are saddened by Peter’s death, we are grateful for his work, his radicalism and his inspiration.

The quality of his work, his unique ability to use this work to influence policy making and his commitment to campaigning against poverty means that he had a special place in the hearts and minds of both staff and members of CPAG. He will be sorely missed, but we will do everything we can to ensure that his legacy lives on, and his hopes and dreams for a society free of relative poverty are fulfilled. 

Kate Green
Chief Executive Child Poverty Action Group