Obituary: Emeritus Professor Brian Palmer

It is with sadness that we mark the death of Emeritus Professor Brian Palmer, who was Professor of Education at the University of Reading.

Professor Palmer passed away peacefully, aged 91, on 1 September 2024 at his home in Winchester.

He was Principal of Bulmershe College of Higher Education, which merged with the University in 1989. This created the Bulmershe Court campus of the University, which remained open until around 2011.

Following the merger, Professor Palmer became Dean of the Faculty of Education and Community Studies at the University.

He was hugely supportive of the University’s former Theatre Arts, Education and Deaf Studies programme.

Our archives record that he delivered an inaugural public lecture entitled ‘Equality of Educational Opportunity – and for the deaf?’ on Whiteknights campus in December 1990.

After retirement, he was made an Emeritus Professor and remained a visiting member of staff until his death.

Professor Palmer is survived by his three children, Catherine, John and Michael, and eight grandchildren.

Image caption: Poster from the University of Reading archives, advertising the public lecture presented by Professor Brian Palmer, then Dean of the Faculty of Education and Community Studies