In Memoriam For full obituaries and tributes visit www.lancaster.ac.uk/alumni/in-memoriam


Patrick Sherry, Professor Emeritus of Philosophical Theology in the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, passed away on May 2nd 2025. Patrick was appointed to a lectureship in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Lancaster in 1974. He was asked to become Head of Department in 1990 and one of his enduring acts as Head was to appoint Linda Woodhead to a lectureship. He was unfailingly supportive and encouraging of junior colleagues and was a generous mentor. He served as an officer of the British Society of the Philosophy of Religion and served for many years on the editorial board of ‘Religious Studies’, the CUP international journal of the philosophy of religion. He was awarded a readership in 1993 and a personal chair in 1999. He retired in 2002.


Sarah Casy, (MA Modern Language Research, 1999, BA French Studies, 1993, Bowland) who studied and worked at Lancaster across a range of departments until 2001, passed away on April 15th 2025. After earning a first class degree in French Studies in 1993, she became a secretary in LUMS, before completing a master’s in Modern Language Research in 1999. Sarah also took on casual teaching and supervision roles in the DELC Resource Centre while a postgraduate, and later worked as a research secretary in Applied Social Science, before leaving the University in 2001.


Dr Alan Wood, Senior Lecturer in 19th century Russian Studies, died on April 22nd 2025, aged 82. After a bachelor’s degree at Oxford, Alan joined the department as lecturer in October 1971 and was twice Head from 1975-80 and 1982-84. Alan transferred to the Department of History and remained there for the rest of his Lancaster career. He received his doctorate in 1991 and was promoted to Senior Lecturer. From 1997 to 2005 he was the University Dean and he retired in 2005, while continuing as a visiting researcher until 2011.


Alwaleed Abdeen (MSc E-Business and Innovation, 2018) was a Lancaster University graduate and Chevening Scholar, who lost his life at the hands of the paramilitary in Sudan in April 2025.


Lynn Austin, formerly of the College and Residence Office, passed away in March 2025. In January 1994 she took up a role of secretary in the CCRS – Residential Services, and then in January 1998 she became the College Residence Officer for Bowland College. Lynn became Systems & Finance Assistant for the College & Residence Office in January 2010 until December 2011.


Roger Davenport (Biological Sciences, 1971, Fylde) died on March 10th 2025. His alumnus friend, Mick Coats, has provided the following tribute: “I first met Roger when we both arrived at university in 1968. We were original inhabitants of Bowland Tower, moving to Fylde College as founder members. One memorable event was a trip that a number of us made to a weekend rock festival at Shepton Mallet, headlined by Led Zeppelin. None of us thought to bring a tent or sleeping bags in those pre- glamping days. After leaving university, Roger had a career in public service and became Chief Executive of a local NHS Trust. His two children carried on the great tradition by attending Fylde College”.


David Waines, Professor Emeritus of Islamic Studies in the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion passed away at Laurel Bank Care Home, Lancaster on March 1st 2025. David was appointed as Lecturer in the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Lancaster in 1976. Shortly after his arrival in Lancaster, the department was closed and he moved to the Department of Religious Studies in 1983. He was awarded a personal chair in 1996 and served briefly as Head of Department. He retired in 2005 and was subsequently a visiting professor at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands for three years.


James (Jim) Andrew, former Director of the Personnel and Staff Development Division from July 1969 until July 1993, died, aged 94 on February 5th 2025. Jim came to Lancaster as Staff Officer in July 1969, a time when staff numbers were rapidly increasing as departments moved from St Leonard’s House to Bailrigg. By the time he retired in July 1993 as Director, his single office and one clerical officer had expanded to a complete corridor in Bowland North, with responsibility for all staff and for staff development that he shared with a significant team he had personally recruited.


Dr Lorna Ashton, formerly of the Chemistry Department, passed away in February 2025. Lorna joined Lancaster as a lecturer in Chemistry in October 2014. Promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2020, Lorna was appointed Interim Head of Chemistry the following summer, only to be forced to step aside a few months later due to ill- health. She returned to work during 2022 until late 2024.


Steve Mack (Psychology, 2014, Fylde) Academic Conduct and Appeals Investigator in Student and Education Services at Lancaster University died on January 24th 2025. He had worked in a number of roles in the division including Student Records and Examination Officer and Senior Records Administrator.


22 | STEPS 2025


He was also an active contributor to the collegiate system serving as Bowland Senior College Advisor and latterly Graduate College Dean.


Balbir Singh Sidhu (MA Business Analysis, 1984) passed away whilst on holiday in Dubai with his family on January 4th 2025. Balbir had a distinguished and successful career in corporate banking, working at a number of organisations including NatWest, Unicredito Italiano, DZ Bank and Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi.


Margaret Calder, who worked at Lancaster University over a period of 26 years, starting as Clerk and Learning Resources Officer in November 1991, died in January 2025. She moved to a post in the library in 1996, taking the role of Senior Library Assistant (resources) in 2001 before retiring from the University in 2017.


2024


Paul Boustead, who led the University’s People and Organisational Effectiveness division until February 2022, died on December 29th 2024 after falling on Helvellyn, in the Lake District. During nearly eight years at Lancaster, Paul played a vital role in critical areas of work including the development of Lancaster’s first people strategy 2015-20 and the University’s response to the Covid pandemic.


Steven Bonsor (Biological Sciences, 1974, Lonsdale) died on December 15th 2024 shortly after being diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma. After graduating he trained as a public finance accountant and worked for different local authorities before finishing his career as Director of Finance at Woking. Always an avid sportsman, playing 5-a-side football almost daily whilst at Lancaster, he spent his retirement playing golf and twice-weekly tennis at the club where he was Chairman for many years.


Professor Philip Hodge, formerly of the Chemistry Department, died on December 3rd 2024. Phil enjoyed an illustrious career as an organic chemist, making significant contributions to his field. He shared his knowledge and passion for chemistry at both Lancaster University and Manchester University, earning the respect of colleagues and students alike.


Des Hopwood, former Lecturer in the Marketing Department, passed away on November 29th 2024. This extract from a tribute is written by former colleague, George Long: “When I learnt of Des Hopwood’s death I was shocked despite his ‘being in my 90th year’ as he told us when his wife Eva, colleague David Tonks and myself last visited him. His career at Lancaster saw the demise of the MA, the successful launch and development of a significant series


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