Tribute to ‘irrepressible’ history professor

A leading Oxford University history professor who died in a multi-car crash on the M40 has been remembered as “a warm and loyal friend” with a passion for teaching.

Mark Whittow, 60, a medieval historian and archaeologist who had been named as the next provost of Oriel College, died along with a 29-year-old man in the five-vehicle collision on Saturday.

Prof Martin Conway, chairman of Oxford University’s history faculty, said: “Mark was an enormous influence on history in Oxford, where his energy and commitment to teaching, research and to the sense of an intellectual community was irrepressible.”