King's College London

On Friday 12th October, members of the department and invited guests came together to celebrate the life of Professor Richard Roberts. Richard was a Professor of Contemporary History in the Department of Political Economy. He joined King’s College London in 2010, when the Institute of Contemporary British History moved to the college from its former home in the Institute of Historical Research within the University of London. Professor Roberts was Director of the ICBH from 2007-2010, whilst at the University of London, and again from 2014-2016, when the Institute completed its work and he became a member of the Department of Political Economy. 

In his own words, Jeremy Jennings, a close friend of Richard, describes him as "one of the very best financial historians of his generation. He was also a dear friend and an esteemed colleague, a man of infinite wit and charm. It was therefore a great privilege for King's College to welcome not only Richard's family but also speakers of such immense distinction from the worlds of academia, banking and journalism to mark and celebrate his distinguished career". 

The conference was at full capacity, with close friends and family coming together to reminisce about the life of Professor Roberts. Distinuished speakers included Professor Pat Thane from King’s College, David Kynaston, Historian of the City of London, Andrew Haldane, Chief Economist and Executive Director for Monetary Analysis, Research and Statistics, Bank of England, Professor Forrest Capie, Professor Emeritus of Economic History, Faculty of Finance, City University, William Keegan, Journalist and Author, Economics Editor of The Observer, 1977-2003, James Nye, recent PhD student of Richard Roberts and Lord Nicholas Macpherson, Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, 2005-2016.