We were very grateful to have received this obituary from Michael van Ryneveld (1976G) after the beautiful celebration of Peter's life that took place here at the Mitre on the 14th of November.  Over 100 guests attended in person and the event was also broadcast live across the globe.  Here follows the obituary:

Peter Anthony van Ryneveld (1973G), 16th September 1957 – 26th October 2023

Peter van Ryneveld passed away peacefully in Johannesburg after the diagnosis of an aggressive brain tumour, and the subsequent biopsy result which revealed advanced Glioblastoma cancer deeply embedded in his brain.

Peter was born in Cape Town and grew up in Newlands and Rondebosch. He was the first of four boys, and from an early age showed strong leadership qualities.

His school career started at the Bishops Pre-prep. He was a diligent scholar and a good all-rounder throughout his school career, and he ended it on a high note as Head Boy in 1973. He was awarded a post-matric scholarship to Hailebury, he studied Economics at Stellenbosch and Law at Cambridge.

He was a good sportsman and played rugby and cricket at school and enjoyed a good game of tennis and squash

His work life started in finance, working and living in both France and South Africa. He left the corporate world early on in his career, and started his company - the Johannesburg School of Finance to teach non-financial people the basics of finance. He has always been an excellent and engaging communicator and this was the ideal niche for him. He was a CFA trainer and over time developed an array of finance courses for corporate clients in South Africa and further afield. He was an innovator and developed a simple and effective finance game called Banangoes, using the model of a refreshing mango and banana product sold on Clifton beach in the summer. This programme is run in schools, and has touched the lives of many, many thousands of young people.

In the late 60’s our parents built a holiday cottage at Langebaan, and it proved fertile ground for arguably his most passionate interest – sailing. Sailing was on my mother’s side of the family, and encouraged by her my father bought a Loch Fyne dinghy – arguably the most stable boat in the world. Dad and Peter promptly capsized it on its maiden voyage at Zeekoei Vlei, but thankfully undeterred his and our family’s sailing journey’s had begun. Dabchicks, Sonnets, and Hobies followed and it was the purchase of a Flying Dutchman in about 1975 that became Peter’s great love on the lagoon, a boat he always regarded as the pinnacle of dinghy sailing.

It was while at Cambridge that he and others were introduced to ‘ocean’ sailing in Greece, and the start of dozens of sailing holidays shared with family and friends over the rest of his life. This was Peter in his element.

Peter was a sponge for knowledge and a lifelong learner. He was passionate in his interests and his general knowledge was extensive. He became a passionate bird

watcher, he loved walking in the veld, loved game reserves and animals, and recently became a WWF trustee. Peter was also a community builder. He was committed to improving lives around him and had started developing a manifesto for a new political party to tackle some of the challenges in the country today.

Peter was an individual, and a passionate South African.

He is survived by his wife Lindsay and daughter Saskia, together with his three brothers – John (1975G) and the twins Michael and Andrew (both 1976G).

Our sincerest condolences to everyone who knew and loved him.