My father, Michael Rose, emeritus professor of social and economic history at Manchester University, who has died aged 86, was a historian who made a significant contribution to the study of the English Poor Law of the 19th century, and to the regional and local history of Manchester.
Mike was born in Sheffield, to Edward, the vicar of the parish of Darnall, and Ellen (nee Baker), a nurse. After attending Rotherham grammar school, he completed his national service with the army, though when applying for a commission he was told that he did not “have a military mind”. The Royal Army Ordnance Corps’ loss was academia’s gain however, as he won a scholarship to Oxford, studying history first at Jesus, then Nuffield.
By 1961 he was engaged to Christine Jones, a nurse – they married two years later – and they moved to Manchester after he accepted an offer of employment as a junior lecturer at the university. He would spend the rest of his working life there, eventually becoming professor of economic and social history, and publishing his most notable works, The English Poor Law 1780-1930 (1971) and The Relief of Poverty 1834-1914 (1972). His later research looked at the settlement houses movement (notably Toynbee Hall in Whitechapel, east London, Jane Addams’ Hull-House in Chicago, and the University Settlement in Ancoats, Manchester).
He was much liked by his colleagues, navigating the inevitable troubles of a large department in a major university with good humour, patience and an unruffled temperament, as well as by students – teaching was his forte, a passion and a true vocation.
A Labour party member on and off for most of his life, he stood for election to the local council in 1970 and though unsuccessful (like many of those he admired), this did not deter him from campaigning tirelessly for those less fortunate. He remained passionately and defiantly “old Labour”, led by his admiration of Clement Attlee.
He enjoyed walking in the north Peaks and south Pennines, running (taking part in a number of 10k races), and what he regarded as “real” football: initially a Manchester United supporter, he began following Altrincham FC in the late 1970s and was a regular on the terraces at their Moss Lane ground up until only a couple of years ago.
In later years, as well as keeping up his research into local history (publishing the essay Voices of the People in Manchester: Making the Modern City, 2016) and leading tours of Peterloo-era Manchester, he occupied himself with his grandchildren as often as he could, and spent many hours pottering in the garden (under the direction, he always claimed, of my mother).
He is survived by Christine, and their children, Simon, Clare and me (Chris), and grandchildren, Tilly, Liam and Connor.
