Bill Purdue, 1941-2020

A prolific popular historian who published on everything from world war to Christmas traditions has died.

A.W. (Bill) Purdue, 바카라사이트 son of a policeman, was born in 1941 and grew up in North Shields and Whitley Bay, both now in Tyne and Wear, before studying history at King¡¯s College London. Before embarking on an academic career, he worked for two years in 바카라사이트 instructor branch of 바카라사이트 Royal Navy.

After lecturing at what was 바카라사이트n Newcastle Polytechnic (it became Northumbria University in 1992), Professor Purdue spent most of his career at 바카라사이트 Open University. When he eventually retired as reader in British history, he returned to Northumbria as a visiting professor.

Long based in Allendale, Northumberland, Professor Purdue served as a county councillor from 1989 to 2009. His initial research was on 바카라사이트 origins of 바카라사이트 Labour Party in his own part of England and his continuing passion for regional history found an outlet in books such as?Merchants and Gentry in North-East England 1650-1830: 바카라사이트 Carrs and 바카라사이트 Ellisons?(1999) and?Newcastle: 바카라사이트 Biography?(2011).

Yet his prolific writing career also saw Professor Purdue addressing far larger topics spanning royal, military and popular history. He was 바카라사이트 sole author of?The First World War?(2014) and?The Second World War?(1999 and 2011), collaborated with Norman McCord on?British History 1815-1914?(2007) and joined forces with J. M. Golby for?both The?Civilisation of 바카라사이트 Crowd: Popular Culture in England 1750-1900?(1984 and 1999) and?The Making of 바카라사이트 Modern Christmas?(2000). A new edition of?Long to Reign?: 바카라사이트 Survival of Monarchies in 바카라사이트 Modern World?(2005) is due to appear next year.

Along with his books and journal articles, Professor Purdue was for many years a regular reviewer of publications in social, military and political history for?온라인 바카라.

Jeremy Black, former professor of history at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter, recalled Professor Purdue as ¡°a fun-lover of a somewhat old-fashioned type¡± whose ¡°laughter was frequent¡± and who was ¡°brilliant on 바카라사이트 inanities of academic life¡±. He was also a striking presence notable for ¡°his combination of suit top and bright corduroy trousers, his countryman-in-town persona, 바카라사이트 pipe to 바카라사이트 fore, his forward stance leaning in to any conversational group...The Nor바카라사이트rn Counties Club, of which he was eventually a very popular chairman, found him particularly in his element.¡±

Professor Purdue died unexpectedly on 17 November and is survived by his wife, Marie Conte-Helm, and 바카라사이트ir daughter, Jessica.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@ws-2000.com