Farewell to stalwart of St Albans music scene Pete Waters

Pete Waters (Image: Archant)

He had lived in St Albans most of his life although his parents came from County Wexford in Ireland and he was born and spent his early childhood in Islington.

He was a familiar face in most of the music venues in and around St Albans including The Acorn, The Goat, The Robin Hood, The Garibaldi, The White Lion, The Rats Castle, The Farmers Boy and the Horn of Plenty.

In 1987, Pete returned from Australia and, with his musical partner Bruce Fursman, formed a duo called The Coulin who released a single entitled Songs from Afar.

Several years later in the early 1990s, he formed what would be his most well-known band, the Plastic Paddys who toured extensively in the UK as well as the east coast of the US.

The band also promoted the Big Gig music events at the Golden Lion in London Colney.

In 2007 Pete released an album of his own songs which he showcased at the Maltings Arts Theatre as well as Childwickbury Arts Fair and teamed up with the veteran musician Wild Willy Barrett to perform gigs both in the UK and abroad.

As well as being a prolific songwriter, singer and musician, Pete was also a man of many talents and held a degree in Irish History and Spanish.

In recent years he travelled to Thailand and India where he taught English and stayed at an orphanage. On his return he organised charity gigs for the street children he met while out there.

The funeral is at 3.20pm next Tuesday, June 23, at West Herts Crematorium with a celebration of his life the same evening at the Irish Club in London Colney.