Fellow Emeritus Peter Rycraft
Posted on 23 September 2023
As well as teaching York's very first cohort of History students in 1963, Peter Rycraft was a major figure in developing the Centre for Medieval Studies. Peter was not only a renowned specialist in medieval Spanish and Catalan history, but also a noted linguist and Latinist, devising and teaching Latin courses for CMS. His study, Peasant Rebellions, 1400-1600, remains well-known to late medievalists. Many of you who had the privilege of being taught by, and working with, Peter called him an "inspirational" figure, who was generous to colleagues, enormously dedicated to the Department, and always treated his students as individuals. What better tribute than from Professor Emerita Sarah Rees-Jones: 'A true European and a bibliophile'.
Peter was predeceased in 2020 by his wife, Ann, archivist at the Borthwick and a fellow-tutor with Peter in CMS. They have two children and I know the thoughts of many colleagues will be with them at this time.