Peter Reid – A Tribute: 1963 – 20th April 2026.
We have two separate tributes to Peter Reid from friends who knew him well. Our thanks to Mitchell Hines and Nigel Gordon-Rae.
Norman Hibbert was NABBA Secretary when Oscar Heidenstam died in 1991 and in due course Norman organised the 1991 and 1992 NABBA Universes, held at Croydon. When Peter won the 1992 Professional Universe it was said that it was the best that he ever looked. It was no easy victory because he defeated multi-Universe winner Ed Kawak. The top 3 in the Pros were Peter Reid – UK, Edward Kawak – France and Victor Terra – USA: Wayne Gallasch
Peter Reid, RIP, by Mitchell Hines, May 2026
Peter Reid passed away on Monday, April 20th, aged 63. He was married to his lovely wife Sharon. Pete had a daughter Kirsty as well as a grandson Malaki whom he also cherished. Peter looked in great shape and was still a mountain of a man, probably weighing about 115kg. Many people would mistake him for being in his 40s He stayed in shape his whole life.
He truly was a special person, not just for what he achieved on stage, but for the way he carried himself in life. Pete served in the Police for many years (30+ years) and took a huge amount of pride in that role. I had the privilege of working alongside him more recently (in the RAF Croughton Fitness Centre), and he was exactly the same person day-to-day as you’d imagine from his achievements: disciplined, humble, and always looking out for others.
To many people, Pete was “Mr Universe,” a former champion with one of the most incredible physiques British bodybuilding has ever produced. But in everyday life, he was remarkably humble. If you didn’t ask about his achievements, he rarely mentioned them. There was never ego with Pete; only quiet confidence, discipline, and kindness.
Now, I don’t know too much about his time in the police force. However, I will do my best to touch on it slightly without going into too much depth.
Before working at RAF Croughton Fitness Centre, Pete served over 30 years as a police officer with Thames Valley Police, becoming Oxford’s first Black police officer. He was immensely proud of that service. He often spoke about policing not simply as a career, but as a responsibility to connect with people and help others. The same discipline and integrity that made him a champion bodybuilder also made him deeply respected within the police force and later within the RAF Croughton community.
At RAF Croughton, Pete worked as part of the Fitness Centre staff (Fitness Manager), where he became far more than just a gym employee. He was a mentor, role model, training partner, coach, and friendly face to countless military personnel, civilians, and families stationed here over the years.
Many people trained under Pete’s guidance, and although he no longer competed himself, bodybuilding and fitness remained a huge part of his daily life and identity.
What made Pete special was the balance he carried. He was physically imposing, disciplined, and carried himself with incredible presence. But once people got to know him, they discovered someone warm, funny, caring, and deeply grounded. He remembered names, checked in on people, encouraged them quietly, and made people feel like they belonged. Our gentle giant.
One of the things many of us will remember most was his routine and consistency. Every day at 1pm, Pete would be in the strength room training, as part of his lunch break. Watching him train was like watching someone honour a craft he truly loved. Not for attention – no; simply because discipline was part of who he was.
Outside of training, Pete loved films, especially Denzel Washington movies, and he loved going to the cinema, whether it be through the week or on the weekends. You’d always be able to get an honest review of the latest movies that’d just come out with Pete. He also had a brilliant dry sense of humour.
Despite his famously disciplined diet, he had a weakness for homemade desserts, particularly anything baked by my mum, Maria (my mum works as a patisserie chef in a place called the Roux at Skindles, which is part of Michel Roux’s Michelin branch.) someone he jokingly said he knew “very intimately through his stomach,” despite never actually meeting her in person. Outside of that, honestly he just made time for his loved ones. Pete understood something many people forget: life itself is a blessing.
Peter was not a trophy collector and only kept his very first winning trophy which was one of the first British open bodybuilding competitions. He gave most of his other trophies to his sponsors or close friends.
A special memorial half marathon for Pete has just been run from the base and a memorial service held on the base. I believe that Pete was born in Jamaica and moved to England as a teenager. Initially he had dreamed of becoming a sprinter and he had a few sessions then one day when he was ready to go outdoors for a run, it was wet, rainy, cold, and gloomy. Typical British weather and it was at that moment the sprinting dream quickly faded. Then he stumbled upon an old school bodybuilding magazine and the rest is history.
He often spoke fondly about his childhood, especially sitting on the porch with his grandfather listening to country and western music. You never would’ve guessed it, but artists like: Jim Reeves, Charlie Pride and Perry Como were favourites of his and clearly stayed with him throughout his life. His grandfather was someone he spoke about with enormous respect and was a major influence on the man that Pete became.
Away from bodybuilding, Pete was an incredibly devoted family man. He absolutely adored his wife Sharon and spoke constantly about his daughter Kirsty and especially his grandson Malakai, who truly lit up his world.
He’d show me videos of Malakai taking his first steps, I think it was at 15 months. Weekends spent with family were everything to him and hearing him talk about them during the week was one of the ways you saw the softer side of the man people often found intimidating at first glance.
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Peter Reid: RIP: by Nigel Gordon-Rae, May 2026
I was devastated to hear of Peter Reid’s passing. We met when I was compering his first NABBA South Britain Bodybuilding show and that was over 36 years ago.
It was clear then that he was going to make it to the top and as it transpired Peter won the NABBA Universe twice.
I met Peter twice for lunch before Christmas 2025 and he looked in amazing shape for his age.
Over the years I have met many champions both in and outside of the sport of bodybuilding and all had very similar strengths. However, Peter was one of the few that possessed what I term as the ‘total package’. Peter never forgot what it took to become a NABBA Universe winner (A NABBA title Arnold Schwarzenegger won four times) and has always been able to motivate anyone who approached him for advice.
The first time I heard about his passing was from Ian Dowe (who I keep in touch with). I then made a call to Danny Breen who confirmed my worst fears. Peter always spoke very highly of his wife Sharon, his daughter, Kirsty and his grandson Malakai.
Peter was working full-time as the Gym Manager at an RAF base and loved his job and the people that he came across on a daily basis. I can honestly say that I was proud to be able to call Peter a friend and there is no doubt in my mind that he was a credit to his family and to bodybuilding in the UK.
Take care my friend.