Emeritus Professor Geoffrey K Fry
Colleagues will be sorry to learn of the death, on 21 May 2023, of Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Fry, former Professor of British Government and Administration.
After a period of National Service, a brief spell within the Civil Service and obtaining his BSc (Econ) and PhD at the London School of Economics, Geoff came to Leeds as Lecturer in the former Department of Politics in September 1966. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1984, Reader in 1990 and was awarded a personal chair in British Government and Administration in 1994. He wrote extensively on Public Administration, the Civil Service and on British politics, in particular the premiership of Margaret Thatcher. He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society in 2000.
Geoff was truly one of a kind and his kindness and sense of humour endeared him to many of his colleagues and students. He was a major fan of Humphrey Bogart and was probably the only academic in England who could recite the entire script of ‘Casablanca’ word for word.
Geoff retired from the University in September 2003, at which time the title and status of Emeritus Professor was bestowed upon him. Following this, he continued to write and publish. He also travelled, wrote novels, and a tribute to his beloved Portsmouth FC, which was second only to the family in his loyalties. He is survived by his wife Heather, to whom he always affectionately referred as ‘Boss Cat’; his children Kate, Richard and David, and his grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held on Tuesday 13 June 2023 at 1pm at Lidgett Park Methodist Church, Lidgett Place, Leeds, LS8 1HG, on which day the flag on the Parkinson Building will be flown at half-mast in his memory. All friends and former colleagues are welcome to attend. No flowers please (a charity collection will be held). Light refreshments will be provided in the adjoining church hall following the service. RSVP c.wise@leeds.ac.uk.
A full obituary is being prepared.