Derek Diamond died on 6 May 2015 just before his 82nd birthday. He was a great stalwart of British geography and of urban and regional planning in particular: throughout his academic life he single-mindedly explored the interplay between the fields of geography and planning.
Derek played influential roles in a wide variety of areas – researcher and consultant in urban and regional planning, university administrator, journal editor, and contributor to a variety of professional societies.
Above all he was a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher.
An academic of ‘the old school’ and a man of impressive talents and perceptiveness, Derek’s warmth, generosity and collegiality will be greatly missed by his ex-students and colleagues and by all those with whom he came in touch.