Peter “Pedro” Taylor passed away peacefully on 23 February 2019 aged 77. Pedro was still an active participant in our X umpire luncheons at Mornington and always had a good story or two to tell.
Peter Jerome Taylor was born in Richmond and grew up in Mordialloc and Parkdale. He played football for Mordialloc YCW in the YCW Football League. He also played cricket for St.Bridgets-St.Louis Cricket Club where he was also a life member.
He began umpiring in 1965 with the VFL Reserve Grade as a field umpire and then from 1970-76 as a goal umpire. He contributed to the VFL Reserve Grade Umpires Association as a member of the Executive Committee
Pedro was promoted to the VFL senior panel as a goal umpire in 1977. He earned Heritage No. 171 with his appointment to Footscray versus Melbourne at the Western Oval in round two.
The 1981 Qualifying Final was his first finals appointment and was followed with the second-semi in 1982 and the qualifying final in 1984. Peter retired at the end of the 1985 season having compiled a 144 match total. Additionally, 12 VCFL finals including 3 VCFL grand finals. Of those matches he felt the most memorable was Queen’s Birthday 1985 – a Hawthorn-North Melbourne draw with John Kennedy coaching North for the first time.
Off the field Peter served on the VFLUA Executive Committee in 1982and was an active member of the VFLUA Cricket Club. That and his role as cricket club treasurer for many years contributed significantly to his award of honorary life member of the association in 1987.
Vale Pedro.