My pal Steve Mills, who has died aged 74, was a senior lecturer in American research at Keele College, the place he labored from 1976 till 2009. Afterwards he grew to become a visiting tutor at Ruskin Faculty, Oxford, a task he held till 2012.
One in all Steve’s proudest achievements got here within the early 2000s, when his division at Keele was awarded an distinctive rating of 5 out of 5 for its educating, in addition to its analysis, by the Whole High quality Assurance inspection physique.
A heat, caring and beneficiant man, he was additionally an educationist in on a regular basis life, not simply in educational settings: he would be part of toddlers at their music courses, and a stroll alongside the road together with his grandchildren can be be seen as an opportunity to assist them study details about their native surroundings.
Born in Westow, North Yorkshire, to Kenneth Mills and his spouse, Blanche (nee Blake), who had been wardens of a youth hostel, Steve went to Southwell Minster chorister college, the place he immersed himself in music and something to do with the outside. After a level in American research and geography at Keele he gained a grasp’s from Maryland College within the US, the place he additionally taught for a interval.
In 1976 he returned to the UK – and Keele – to turn into a lecturer in American research. From 2009 to 2012 he was a analysis fellow at Keele’s David Bruce Centre for American Research whereas additionally tutoring at Ruskin Faculty.
He and his spouse, Nina (nee Dawes), whom he married in 1984, loved household life, embracing a bunch of prolonged family members at their dwelling. Extremely knowledgable about movies, he appreciated to take a seat down together with his grandchildren to look at widespread Disney motion pictures. He additionally relished supporting Nina, who was chief govt at Lichfield council, as she attended varied civic and nationwide occasions for her work.
He’s survived by Nina, their kids, Jesse, Sam and Sara, Nina’s daughter, Vibeke, from a earlier relationship, and 4 grandchildren, Katinka, Joules, Lana and Arthur.
