:
Amateur Peter was born in Melbourne, Australia in 1931. In the 1940s he was educated at
Box Hill High School, where he became captain of the football, tennis and swimming teams. Cawthorn played his first senior tournament in 1949 at the New South Wales Hard Court Championships where he reached the quarter finals. He then competed in Australian state and national tournaments over the next two years. In July 1951 he took part in the
Wimbledon Championships, but lost in the second round to French player
Paul Rémy. In 1952 Cawthorn won eight titles including the
Cinque Ports Championships,
Cumberland Hard Court Championships, Sutton Coldfield Hard Courts,
East Gloucestershire Championships, Havant Open, Worthing Hard Courts,
Hull Open and Worthing Open. He also competed at 1952 Wimbledon Championships, where he was in the top half of the draw, but lost in the first round to the American player
Harry Likas. In major professional tournaments of the time he was a two time quarter finalist at the
Wembley Professional Championships in 1957 and 1958, and a quarter finalist in singles at the
French Professional Championship in 1956, and a semi-finalist in the men's doubles partnering
Tony Mottram. :
Coaching During his amateur period he was hired as a short term coach for the Irish and Pakistan Davis Cup teamsvarious Davis Cup teams in 1955, the Spanish, Irish and Dutch teams in 1956, and Dutch and German teams in 1958. Additionally he was also hired as a tennis coach for the Rochester Country Club in 1958 in
Rochester, New Hampshire, United States that lasted into his professional career and beyond til 1983. In 1961 whilst on the Pro tour he was hired by the Tennis Club of Rochester in
Pittsford, NY the United States as their resident pro coach. ==Singles titles (21)==