Peter Townend (editor)

Kenneth Peter Townend (1921-2001) was a social editor and genealogist who was born in Leeds, 26 April 1921; and died in London, 16 July 2001.

Peter Townend was educated at King's School, Pontefract, served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and afterwards joined Burke's Peerage. He became editor in 1960 until he was replaced by Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd in 1971 or 1972, by which time he was social editor of The Tatler, and had become renowned for his organisation of the vestigial UK 'deb scene'.