Sister's tribute to eccentric street entertainer from Barrow

Peter Mickle and his sister Carol Casey, 65, were originally from Barrow but moved to Birkenhead, Wirral, when they were five and six respectively. 

Peter became famous for entertaining shoppers on Church Street in Liverpool City Centre with his unique props and colourful suits. He was found dead at his flat in Birkenhead on Monday, August 7. The cause of his death is currently unknown.

His sister and next of kin Carol, from Woodchurch, Wirral, has paid tribute to her younger brother describing him as a 'gentle soul' who 'wouldn’t hurt anyone'

She said: “Me, Peter and our younger brother Phil were born in Barrow-in-Furness but we moved to Birkenhead when I was six and Peter was five. Our birthdays were just two days apart.

“Our Peter was a gentle soul but a bit eccentric at times. My mum used to call him the nutty professor because Phil and I were quite quiet compared to him.”

During his 20s, Peter joined the Merchant Navy and spent more than five years on the QEII.

Carol said: “He had quite a good life there. When he came out, he just drifted around most of the time he sometimes stayed in the YMCA. We always offered to take him in, but he just wanted to go his own way and do his own thing, but he always knew where we all were.

“He would always ring us if he needed help.”

Peter then began busking on Church Street in Liverpool city centre where we began rising in popularity among shoppers.

Carol added: “When he started doing the busking my mum would always tell him off, but he’d tell her that he wanted to do it and that he liked doing it so eventually we just accepted it. God love him.

“When I’d visit Liverpool, I’d go right up to him before he’d realise it was me and he would go ‘Oh ‘iya sis’.”

Peter was also a regular visitor at the Charles Thompson Mission, a homeless charity in Wirral.

Carol said: “He would always go to the mission every Christmas. He’d come to us and go to mum’s but then he would go there for his dinner every time.

“He’d come over with a big black bin bag full of presents for everyone it might have been a bottle of shampoo or a pair of gloves but he’d always make sure that everyone had a present.

“He was special like that. He’d never hurt anyone.” 

Since Peter’s death, thousands of comments and tributes have been left on social media with many sharing their memories of the much-loved busker.

Carol said: “I can’t believe the reaction to his death - none of us can. It’s been so overwhelming. We had no idea because to us he was just Peter.

“He would always tell us he was a legend in Liverpool, but we would never believe him. We are so grateful as a family for all the comments. It’s been so lovely to see.”

Carol and her family are now hoping to raise funds to cover the costs of Peter’s funeral by setting up a fundraising page.

She said: “Peter didn’t have any insurance and because I’m only his sister and not his partner I’m only entitled to £1,000 to go towards the funeral.

“Funeral directors want £3,000 for just a basic funeral and you have to give half up front, but as a family, we can’t afford it.

“We’re trying to get the money between us but it’s not something you expect to happen. We were not prepared for the high costs of a funeral service.

"Another option is we just have him cremated and get the ashes but we don’t feel like this is right for Peter. We want to give him the funeral he deserves.”

If you would like to donate, vist the fundraising page.