[1] Peter Roach studied Classics at the Priory Grammar School for Boys, Shrewsbury.

At Oxford University (Brasenose College, 1962–1966) he took Classical Honour Moderations before graduating in psychology and philosophy (PPP).

He returned to the University of Reading in 1994 as Professor of Phonetics, later becoming head of the School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies.

[5] He has been the principal editor of the Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary for all editions from the 15th (1997) to the current 18th (2011)[6][7] which is also published in CD-ROM format[8] and an Apple app.

[12] He was a partner in the European project SPECO that produced a computer-based training system to improve deaf children's speech.