Peddie was son of Crofton Peddie (1863-1938), of Hull, Yorkshire and of Stirling, a labourer at a colour-works, and his wife Ethel, daughter of George Whisker, of Hull, formerly a farmer in North Yorkshire.

He served in the Ministry of Information during World War II then became a director of the Co-operative Wholesale Society.

[6] Peddie was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1944 Birthday Honours,[7] and was created Baron Peddie, of the City and County of Kingston upon Hull on 8 February 1961.

Peddie was also a governor of the British Film Institute and the Advertising Standards Authority.

In 1931, Peddie married Hilda Mary Alice, daughter of Henry James Ernest Bull, of Lowestoft, Suffolk and of Hull.