Affectionately known as 'Wheels', Peter Lawrence Anthony Bedford distinguished himself as an elite sportsmen in Victoria's traditional winter and summer sporting codes.

A final year student of the 'Old Bluestone Pile' in 1964, Peter represented the College's 1st XVIII in the unlikely position of centre half-forward - and despite taking to the field with an injured hand for most of the season, "he moved brilliantly into attack to give us goal after goal" to quote an unnamed correspondent for The Paradian.

As Captain of the 1st XI, Peter also excelled - ably leading the team in all matches and bamboozling opposition batsmen with his crafty leg breaks.

A Port Melbourne boy born and bred, Peter followed his football dream from The Borough to the Lakeside Oval, where his 178-game senior career through nine seasons with South Melbourne from 1968 yielded lofty individual reward - five club best & fairests, three club goalkicking honours and in 1970 the Charles Brownlow Medal for competition fairest and best.

Ultimately a Swans captain, Peter also represented Victoria as a footballer - just as he did as a cricketer - and cricket was his greatest love.

At first-class level, Peter turned out for the state in 39 matches between 1966/’67 and 1972/’73, accumulating 1602 runs at 28.10; and snaring 45 wickets at 33.40. A career highlight was the 134 not out against Western Australia in Melbourne in 1969/70, and, in the same season, a 5 for 40 in the second innings of the match against South Australia to help secure Sheffield Shield victory.

In November 2019, and with the help of his late wife Lynne’s grandson Nate Anderson, Peter cut the ribbon to formally open the Peter Bedford Centre - a newly-built sporting facility at Parade’s Bundoora campus.

The moment meant everything to Peter. As he said after being inducted into the Hall: "Of all the honours I’ve had, to have the sports centre at my old school named after myself is the greatest honour of all . . . and now this”.

For all his lofty on-field achievements, Peter has carried himself with a humility and modesty that has endeared him to all. He's never forgotten his alma mater either and Parade is indeed fortunate to have him in its ranks.

Peer Year 1964
Inducted 2020