Professor Mark Ormrod was a leading historian, senior academic, and a valued and greatly missed colleague and friend. He passed away in August 2020 after a long illness which caused him to take early retirement in 2017. 

Mark was a historian of the later Middle Ages in Britain, a prolific researcher and author. He joined the University of York in 1990 and went on to hold many senior roles including twice Director of the Centre for Medieval Studies (CMS), twice Head of the Department of History, and first Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at York. 

He was a friend to so many of us across our University of York community, and the community of historians and medievalists around the world. He had a particularly close, supportive relationship with his PhD community, taking care to create roles for early career research posts through his many projects.

Many who knew and loved Mark have expressed a wish to contribute funds in his memory. We have set up the Mark Ormrod Fund to support the following causes that we feel reflect Mark’s life, work and values. Funds raised through this appeal will go to support the CMS Masters Anniversary Scholarships, CMS Mark Ormrod PhD prize, CMS new research themes, and the Alcuin Scholarships (for Medieval History) in the Department of History.

Thank you for considering a gift to recognise Mark’s contribution to Medieval Studies and to Medieval History, and his support of postgraduate students. This appeal fund will close on 31 December, 2021, and is just one of the ways that we plan to honour Mark's significant and valued contribution to History, Medieval Studies and to our University of York community. 

With thanks, 

Professors Tim Ayers, Ambrose Field, Craig Taylor, Elizabeth Tyler, and Sarah Rees Jones, from across the Faculty of the Arts and Humanities, University of York

If you are considering giving a larger in memoriam gift, and would like to have a conversation first, please get in touch with Sharon Oakley, University of York Philanthropy Manager, on sharon.oakley@york.ac.uk.

(Photography: Ian Martindale/University of York)