HIS voice is instantly recognisable full of rich, mellifluous tones conjuring up images of a warm fireside, a wee dram on the table and an atmosphere of contentment.

To many sports lovers Peter Alliss is the voice of golf, a friend in the commentary box, their companion and guide for major events from all over the world.

MORE TOP STORIES:

His relaxed and at times slightly irreverent observations have made fans of people who don’t even really follow the game.

And now he’s heading for Colne Muni for a special ‘Evening With’ show.

“It will be a show of two halves,” said Peter. “I’ll come on to rapturous applause and ramble away for a while about the Alliss family and my career. Then we’ll all pop off for a break and when we come back it’s the audience’s turn to get involved in a question and answer session.

“For me that’s always the most enjoyable part of the evening as you never know quite what to expect.”

Peter, who amazingly turns 84 on Saturday, has been taking his show to theatres around the country for over three years.

“I think Colne will be the 150th show that I’ve done and I’m looking forward to it as it’s one area of the country I don’t know that well.

“The area around East Lancashire is a great golfing area and I’ve played at Pleasington and Clitheroe in the past but I don’t think I’ve ever been to Colne.”

Peter was always destined to have a career in golf. His father Percy was one of Britain’s finest golfers before the Second World War. Peter went on to become a top professional in his own right winning three British PGA championships plus 18 further professional tournaments in his career and playing in eight Ryder Cups.

He then embarked on a second career in the commentary box becoming the BBC’s main commentator in 1978. He also hosted highly successful TV shows including Pro Celebrity Golf and Around with Alliss.

Golf today with its massive prize money and multi-million pound endorsements for leading players is a far cry from Peter’s day as a professional.

“People always ask me if I envy the players today,” said Peter. “When I won my first tournament, the Irish Open, I won £350 in prize money.

“But you could also buy a wonderful house for £3,000, it was all relative.

“Now you have Rory McLlroy who I think is terrific winning millions – it is a different world, a different adventure now.”

Peter’s ability in the commentary box to capture a moment with a single phrase and to resist the temptation to fill every second of the airwaves have made him beloved by millions of TV viewers.

“The great thing about golf is that it takes us to so many beautiful places,” said Peter. “When the camera pans around sometimes it’s best to say nothing and let the pictures tell the story.

“On other occasions you need to tell the story but you have always got to keep yourself under control.”

With the recent news that Sky TV is to gain the rights for golf coverage from the BBC does Peter fear for the game as a viewing spectacle?

“People get very enraged by this – it is clearly an emotive issue but I think we have to put it in perspective.

“I liken it to owning a shoe factory. If someone offered to buy just all the size eight shows off you and then someone else offered to take everything you made, who would you sell to?”

The matter of a mischievous little quip he may be but Peter remains very much a traditionalist when it comes to golf.

“It is an honourable game and should always remain so,” he said.

n An Evening with Peter Alliss, Colne Muni, Thursday, March 5. Details from the box office on 01282 661234.