Peter Jarvis, from an early-settler family in Mashonaland, Zimbabwe, was educated there and in South Africa.

He did postgraduate studies in Scotland at St Andrews and later Stirling Universities. He worked, in African education in Zimbabwe, then in Fife for 25 years. A love of poetry was enhanced through teaching.

In 2000 he returned to Africa (Botswana) in a team of British Council teachers and enjoyed a thorough immersion in African village life. There were two further postings – with VSO – in Namibia, as adviser and teacher.

He worked on StAnza's planning committee in St Andrews and ran a fortnightly U3A poetry group. Later he was a keen member of a poetry reading group that met in Ceres, where he and his wife Margaret, lived.

His first (and only) full collection, Land the Colour of Heat, was brought out by Red Squirrel Press in 2019.

Pete was fascinated by poetry, all kinds and manifestations, and absolutely loved talking about it. He was a warm supporter of other poets and a good friend to many. He died in January 2026. He will be much missed. 

Publications

• Nights of a Shining Moon, HappenStance, 2015
• Land the Colour of Heat, Red Squirrel, 2019