Dr David Hey

Lovers of Sheffield and South Yorkshire, indeed Derbyshire history, will be saddened to hear of the recent passing of Dr David Hey, lately Emeritus Professor of Local and Family History at the University of Sheffield and writer of The Making of South Yorkshire, Medieval South Yorkshire, the beautifully illustrated, A History of Sheffield and more besides.

In the latter he paid generous tribute to his forebears, and mentions Hunter, Gatty, the Leader Brothers, the scholars of the Hunter Archaelogical Society and Mary Walton, to which could be added, J Edward Vickers and History Man Dr Mervyn Jones and no doubt others.

An affable, genial man, who reminded me of the late and much loved Richard Briers, we can be fortunate in had having him to add to the pantheon.

He modestly pointed out that the History of Sheffield was ‘A’ History and not ‘The’ and paid tribute to the contributions of his students.

Sheffield is losing too many of its champions recently with Ken Hawley and JP Bean.

Ron Clayton

by email