Peter Tyndall Walwyn MBE (1 July 1933 – 7 December 2017)) Race Horse Trainer. He was based at stables in Lambourn and some of his greatest success in the mid-1970s when he was British Flat Racing Champion Trainer twice. Peter Walwyn came from a racing family – and was the cousin of trainer Fulke Walwyn.
Peter was educated at Charterhouse School and his first job in racing was as assistant to trainer Geoffrey Brooke. He then held the licence for Helen Johnson Houghton, twin sister to Fulke Walwyn. (women were not recognised as licensed trainers by the Jockey Club in those days). In October 1960 he took out a licence to train and in 1965 he moved to the stables at Seven Barrows where he spent the majority of his career. Towards the end of his career he moved to Windsor House stables in Lambourn. His principal stable jockeys were Duncan Keith, Pat Eddery and Joe Mercer.
He was one of the leading trainers in Britain during the 1970s, winning the Champion Trainer title in both 1974 and 1975. The most notable horse he trained was Grundy, winner of the Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1975.
He retired as a trainer in 1999 and remained involved in horse racing organisations, and Chairman of the Lambourn Trainers Association. He was elected to honorary membership of the Jockey Club on his retirement.
Peter Walwyn was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to horse racing.
Peter sadly died on 7th December 2017 almost three years after his wife of 54yrs, Virginia ‘Bonk’ Walwyn who died suddenly on 2nd January 2014
Lambourn’s loss was immense on loosing such well-respected characters.
I spent a year or so as an apprentice in his stable, I eventually worked in many different setups across Europe, my fondest memories are of Peter walwyns set up, although his stable was crippled for a few years with a deadly flu like horse virus which I don’t think the stable ever really recovered from great losses occurred including the loss of 2 y/o nureyev which was sent France ,his wife Bonk well she was cute even in her old age, he reminded me of basil faulty, an absolute character of a posh upper class dude, yeah good folk to be around in the 70’s & 80’s
I spent 5 years as a ‘Lad’ at Seven Barrows with ‘The Governor’ from 67 to 71 (when I left to join the Army). He and ‘Bonk’ looked after me and my very young family well, and we eventually had one of the tied cottages at the yard, my daughter being born there in 1970. Once when the governor was away in France, there was a Sable Lads football tournament, but we had no transport to get there, so I decided to ‘borrow’ one of the tractors. On the return journey it ended up smashed against a tall tree. He was a very tall man, and boy was he furious. I mounted my ride one morning, and red faced he walked beside, able to look me straight in the eye, saying it would cost me £2 a week for the repair. Fond memories. My notable horses were Don Quixote (a triple winner eventually loosing to Mill Reef) and Bridgedown (Foxhall Stakes at Glorious Goodwood).