My mother, Anne Piper, who has died aged 96, used her energy and determination to find ways of making the world a more peaceful place. She also wrote novels and plays, and was always a source of encouragement to those around her.

She was born in Llandaff, Cardiff, daughter of Oliffe Richmond, professor of classics at Edinburgh University, and his wife, Beryl (nee Griffiths). Anne was studying English at Newnham College, Cambridge, when she met David Piper, then at St Catharine’s – they were both appearing in a play. At the outbreak of the second world war, she had to endure his departure for the far east and subsequent internment in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. In order to be nearer to him, Anne left for India and among other adventures secured a meeting with Gandhi – an article based on her recollections was published in the Oldie.

After David’s release at the war’s end, they married in 1945 and began a life together; David became an art historian, novelist and director variously of the National Portrait Gallery, Fitzwilliam Museum and the Ashmolean. She opened the family house in Hammersmith, west London, to gatherings of the Royal Court theatre group and other playwrights, writers, artists and political figures. In the 1950s Anne was one of the leading participants in the first Aldermaston marches.

Between 1952 and 1979, she published nine novels, one of which, Yes, Giorgio (1961) was made into a film starring Luciano Pavarotti. Her play The Man-Eaters was produced at the Bristol Old Vic in 1959, and The Hot Summer, based on her experiences during the war, was workshopped at the National Theatre in 1985.

After leaving London for Cambridge, our family eventually moved to Wytham, north of Oxford, in the early 70s, where Anne would spend the rest of her life. She provided office space at Overford Farm for the Oxford Research Group, the independent peace and security organisation that promotes dialogue and common security approaches as sustainable alternatives to violent global confrontation.

She gave studio space to artists and sculptors, and continued the voluntary work with bereavement and marriage guidance services that she had started doing in Cambridge. She was also involved in TalkWorks, a series of filmed interviews with leading public figures putting their weight behind efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons.

She continued to write and blog energetically and held magnificent parties for her family and friends on the lawns by the Seacourt stream, at which she danced with great vigour. She was a faithful supporter of all the activities of Wytham village. Until the last few months of her life she participated in an outdoors tai chi class, in all weathers. She was lucid, funny, combative and loving.

David died in 1990. Anne is survived by their four children – Evanthe, Ruth, Emma and me – as well as 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.