Peter Butler has led a remarkable life – and says he is not done yet. After all Peter is only 81 years old.

Back in 1963 Peter used his powerboat to tow a water-skier around the course of the first Wells Moat Race.

He ran a garage and car wash on Bath Road where Budgens is now while also commentating on powerboat races along the south coast.

He was co-presenting a race off Bournemouth with David Gower, who later became an England cricket star, when his commentating skills were noticed by a visitor from SABC, the South African Broadcasting Corporation who offered Peter a job there in radio and TV.

Peter took the job but was nervous when his first programme was broadcast as he had no formal training. But all went well. SABC sold programmes he made to ITV and Peter also found work with Sky Sports.

There he interviewed eight-year-old Lewis Hamilton who told Peter he was already determined to become Formula One world champion.

Then in 1987 he went to the Middle East – Abu Dhabi, Oman, Dubai and Kuwait where Peter was working when Saddam Hussein invaded in 1990.

As the popularity of powerboat racing expanded around the Persian Gulf, Peter's reputation grew with it.

"But in 2016 I was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer," said Peter. "After an operation and chemotherapy, my cancer went into remission but has now returned."

So he is raising money for children's cancer charities by publishing the six Tales of Gripper the Crab he has written for them and are illustrated by Wells artist Kathryn Pow.. 

"The stories are not only intended to be fun to read and listen to but also incorporate important messages for our children in respect of sea pollution, global warming, over-fishing and homelessness. 

"Throughout the tales my rock pool characters are portrayed as one big happy family, when one is in trouble all the others gather around to help because the family is the greatest institution in the world and plays the most important role."   

In his stories Peter he adopts the character of Barnacle Bobby and writes them in his Wells garden shed which he has converted into a Barnacle Boppy Fisherman's Hut complete with lobster pot and fishing nets.

"Now I am creating audio versions of the books for children with sight problems," said Peter.

"I have had a wonderful life and now it's time to pay back." 

·       For more on the books go to gripperthecrab.com