Matthews was a long-time editor of the ATFS International Athletics Annual published by the Association of Track and Field Statisticians.

He was editor of the Athletics International newsletter working alongside fellow British statistician Mel Watman up until his death two years ago.

Matthews was working on the next edition when he died last Saturday (September 9).

Alongside his work as a television commentator, Matthews was also an in-stadium announcer for many events over the years.

Born in January 1945 in Hampshire, Matthews had a keen interest in the statistical side of the sport from a young age and joined the National Union of Track Statisticians, affectionately known as NUTS, in 1966.

Just a few years later, in 1970 at the age of 25, he was the in-stadium announcer at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

More than three decades later, when the Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, Matthews was once again the stadium announcer,

He fulfilled similar roles at the 2003 World Indoor Championships in Birmingham and the 2006 European Championships in Gothenburg.

Matthews also worked as a commentator for BBC radio and various television channels, including ITV, Channel 4 and Sky Sports.

Matthews' role as editor of the ATFS International Athletics Annuals began in 1984 and continued up until the latest edition.

Matthews also edited the British Athletics Annual from the early 1980s, as well as the Guinness Book of World Records from 1991 until 1995.

In 2009 Matthews was awarded the Ron Pickering Memorial Award for services to athletics, and in 2018 he was inducted into the England Athletics hall of fame.

Geoff Wightman, the in-stadium announcer at the most recent World Championships, also paid tribute.

"Nobody in athletics has a bad word about Peter Matthews," he said.

"He was unfailingly kind, calm and humorous in all his dealings.

"The doyen of the commentary box and announcing booth.

"That voice - so smooth and authoritative.

"He leaves a mass legacy of work as well as a huge void.

"Rest in peace."

Matthews also worked in athletics as an administrator.

He was much involved with the British Athletics League in its early days and for 25 years as President of the Borough of Enfield Harriers and the merged club Enfield and Haringey AC.

Matthews was also President of the UK Counties Athletics Union from 2009 to 2018.