Peter Neumann was a major figure in UK mathematics during a career spanning over 50 years. His parents, Bernhard and Hanna Neumann, were group theorists, so it was perhaps inevitable that Peter would become a specialist in the same area. A notable occurrence, and a sign of things to come, was the publication in 1962 of a joint paper with his parents which gave rise to the concept of an NNN group. There can be few instances in mathematics of three members of the same family co-authoring a paper. His parents spent many years in Australia and Peter maintained strong links with that country throughout his own professional life.