Former Head of Humanities at Bolton Institute of Higher Education, dies aged 91

A former top academic at Bolton Institute of Higher Education has died at the age of 91.

Eric Wollaston was recruited to BIHE, now the University of Bolton, Greater Manchester, in 1968 as Principal Lecturer for the Bachelor of Arts (BA) courses.

He was promoted to Head of Department for Humanities and Community Studies, with a mission to get the degrees approved so they could be awarded by the college itself, instead of having to be done via the University of London.

His daughter Helen said: “This was all part of the masterplan for getting University status. He respected the commitment of mature students doing part-time degrees and was keen to encourage those who did not have the advantage of a privileged family background.

“One of his less successful students, academically at least, went on to achieve fame as Howard Devoto, lead singer of punk rock band the Buzzcocks.”

A committed Christian, Eric took early retirement in 1983 to return to learning, joining Northern College in Manchester where he trained for ministry in the United Reformed Church. His last paid employment was as a chaplain in Withington Hospital, Manchester, until his retirement.

Bolton finally received University status in 2005.

Born on 17 October 1932 in Surbiton, Surrey, to Maurice and May, Eric was evacuated with his two siblings to Atherton in Lancashire during the blitz of the Second World War.

He won a scholarship to Surbiton Grammar, where one of the teachers inspired his love of history and persuaded his parents to let him stay on into the sixth form.

Eric was the first in his family to go to university. He graduated with a first-class degree and went back to do a Master’s after completing his National Service in the Royal Artillery.

Married in 1958 to a GP, his four children all went to university. Isabel followed in her father’s footsteps as an academic, and is currently Associate Professor in Jewish and Holocaust Studies at the University of Birmingham.

In retirement, Eric and his wife settled in Leek, Staffordshire, where he became an active member of the University of the Third Age, giving lectures on a variety of topics.

Helen said: “When he didn’t have his nose buried in a book, he enjoyed sports coverage on radio and TV and for many years he held a family season ticket at Old Trafford.

“My father’s mind remained sharp to the end. He kept up with current affairs and staff at the nursing home where he spent the last months of his life described him as “a fount of knowledge”.