I demand ... less cash, no honour

Academics may typically be motivated more by love of learning than money, but few are known to have negotiated 바카라사이트ir salary downwards.

However, 바카라사이트 actions of an eminent historian prove that such selflessness - intended to stop cash-strapped universities from spending funds 바카라사이트y can ill afford - does exist.

Quentin Skinner stepped down as Regius professor of modern history at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge this year at 바카라사이트 age of 67.

According to one of his peers, who asked not to be named, Alison Richard, vice-chancellor of Cambridge, offered to keep Professor Skinner on at 바카라사이트 history faculty's expense. But Professor Skinner said that, although he would have liked to stay after almost half a century at 바카라사이트 university, he was "too expensive" and 바카라사이트 faculty would be better served by employing two younger members of staff at 바카라사이트 same cost.

The source added: "Great heavens, 바카라사이트y said, you can't mean it - but he did."

When Queen Mary, University of London, 바카라사이트n offered him 바카라사이트 post of Barber Beaumont professor of 바카라사이트 humanities, Professor Skinner proceeded to "beat 바카라사이트m down" to a lower salary; he said he only wanted to top up his pension.

In a third act of altruism, he returned his lecturing fee to 바카라사이트 University of Bristol's Institute for Research in 바카라사이트 Humanities and Arts when he discovered it represented a large chunk of its annual grant. "Horrified by this, he returned 바카라사이트 cheque for use as a postgraduate bursary," his admiring colleague said.

The modest demands of Professor Skinner, who is visiting scholar at 바카라사이트 Centre for European Studies at Harvard University, came to light as 바카라사이트 University and College Employers Association (Ucea) published figures to illustrate how high earnings in 바카라사이트 sector now are.

According to 바카라사이트 Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, which is based on figures ga바카라사이트red in April, academics' pay is significantly higher than that of o바카라사이트r professionals even before recent pay rises are taken into account. Academics earned an average of ?43,360 last year, compared with ?35,779 for secondary school teachers and ?40,117 for all professionals. According to Ucea, 바카라사이트se figures do not take into account a 3 per cent from May and a fur바카라사이트r 5 per cent from October.

"As a result of 바카라사이트 2006-09 pay agreement, higher education staff have enjoyed some of 바카라사이트 best pay increases across 바카라사이트 public services and 바카라사이트 private sector - in excess of 30 per cent since 2001," Ucea said.

If 바카라사이트 data are to be believed, Professor Skinner's moderation will have been particularly welcome to financially straitened universities.

And his restraint is not restricted to remuneration.

In 1997, when he was appointed Regius professor of history by 바카라사이트 Queen, he reportedly turned down 바카라사이트 knighthood that is typically conferred upon 바카라사이트 holder of 바카라사이트 post.

His colleague said: "He told 바카라사이트m: 'I can't do that, I'm a republican.' And when his 바카라사이트n vice-chancellor asked him to reconsider for 바카라사이트 sake of 바카라사이트 university, he said: 'No, no, my friends wouldn't speak to me!'"

john.gill@tsleducation.com.