The Trent University community was saddened to learn of the passing of Dr. Peter Royle on May 18, 2017. He started working at Trent in 1969 as a professor of French Studies. During his time at Trent University, Professor Royle was the associate chairman of the French Studies section of the Modern Languages and Literatures department for a three-year term. He also held the chairman position of the same department for a year. He retired from Trent on July 1, 1996.

Below is an excerpt from his obituary notice:

Peter Royle PhD, age 83, died in hospital in Swindon, England on May 18, 2017. Born in 1934, the only child of James and Doris Royle of Coventry, England, Peter was a professor of French and philosophy, a sports enthusiast, and a music lover. Peter graduated in Modern Languages from Magdalen College, Oxford in 1957 and later earned a PhD in French from the University of Natal. He held teaching positions at the University of Natal in South Africa and then Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland before arriving at Trent University in 1969 where he taught in both the French and Philosophy Departments until retirement. While at Trent he spent a term chairing the French Department and helped initiate a year-abroad program for Trent students of French at the University of Nantes in France. He is survived by his loving life partner, Maren Thomas, and his daughters Eleanor Royle and Frances Royle (Roger Brush), both of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Peter has been buried at Christ Church, 

The University extends heartfelt sympathies to Prof. Royle’s family and friends, and to all who knew him in Peterborough and at Trent University.