Professor Richard Prentice

Born: 10 January, 1952, in Huntingdonshire.

Died: 30 November, 2008, in Edinburgh, aged 56.

PROFESSOR Richard Prentice was a renowned academic and leading light in tourism research.

A prolific researcher, he was the author of close to 200 published papers, and was frequently invited to address high-level conferences across the world.

His most recent post was at the University of Strathclyde's business school, which he joined in October 2006. His roles included head of the department of hospitality and tourism management.

Described by colleagues as being "at the top of his game", Prentice died suddenly just two weeks after appearing as the keynote speaker at the National Tourism Conference for Ireland in Dublin Castle.

Prentice was respected by peers across the world and was an exceptionally supportive supervisor. One of his greatest joys was seeing his PhD students progress and move into top academic positions in the UK and overseas.

Prentice began life in Huntingdonshire and graduated from the University of Liverpool with first-class honours in geography. At the University of Reading, he completed a PhD in planning under the guidance of the renowned town planner Sir Peter Hall.

After two years as a research assistant at Durham University he worked as a planning and implementation officer in London. But the world of academia soon lured him back and in October 1978 he took up a post as lecturer in social policy at University College of Swansea – then a constituent member of the University of Wales, today the University of Swansea.

He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a senior lecturer and later professor of tourism management at Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh. It was there he established a research school – one of his proudest achievements.

His academic career continued as head of department at Glasgow Caledonian University in October 1998, and head of department and professor of heritage interpretation and cultural tourism at the University of Sunderland until September 2006.

He was an active member of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, serving on the research committee and as a council member. He loved the countryside, and kept a cottage retreat in the Durham Dales.

At Strathclyde, he continued his research in cultural and heritage tourism and forged new collaborations with colleagues, who remember his enthusiasm and great sense of fun.

As a historical geographer, he was an avid and accomplished photographer of landscapes and urban spaces, using the images he produced to illustrate his engaging and entertaining conference presentations.

He also used the camera for his personal interests – trains and buses – and sought every opportunity to travel on trains old and new. He bemused colleagues on a trip to Iran by insisting they take the train across the country – a journey which takes many hours longer than it would by car or plane. Despite the discomfort, it is reported that he was the picture of contentment.

Richard Prentice will be remembered for his enthusiasm, kindness and engaging presentation style as well as his integrity and endearing sense of humour. As those closest to him recall, he was an unassuming intellectual giant who leaves behind a great gap in academia and the lives of many.

He is survived by his wife, Vivien Andersen, who is also an academic in the sector. He was extremely proud that one of the most requested research papers in the leading tourism journal, Annals of Tourism Research, was one they had worked on together.