Afterwards, he returned to full-time education and went to St. Peter's College, Oxford, where he read zoology. During that time, he was an active member of the Exploration Club and was in the final selection of oarsmen for the University crew. His experiences enabled him, many years later, to be a founding director of the Kingston (Ontario) Rowing Club.

For National Service, Peter trained with the Royal Marines and later served as an officer in the Middlesex Regiment stationed in Cyprus during the EOKA disturbances.

In 1958, he emigrated to Canada, returned to university, and acquired a degree in mathematics . He lectured for a time at Queen's University and assisted Professor John Coleman with research into the 'n-body' problem in quantum physics. During his stay at Queen's, he used his typographic skills to work with young poets to raise a small college magazine Quarry to the status of a Canadian literary magazine. From 1972 to 1988, he served as a teacher of mathematics for a high school.

In 1980, with co-author Tom Racey, he published 'Geometric Model for Fundamental Particles' in the International Journal of Theoretical Physics. This describes the geometry of space-time that will yield an object possessing both wave and particle properties and shows that so-called `hidden variables' do exist. In 1988, he retired from high school teaching and again became an instructor for engineering students at Queen's University.

Peter Battey-Pratt is married and has three daughters. He and his wife live on a farm north of Kingston and have won an award for the successful restoration of the old 1818, Georgian style, limestone farmhouse.