As a University community, we were saddened to hear the news that The Very Revd Robert Willis passed away on 22 October 2024.
Dean Robert made a huge contribution to our city and region throughout his long and celebrated career. He also reached a much wider audience through his online broadcasts throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, maintaining the Cathedral’s tradition of Daily Office which has stood for 1400 years.
He was a long-standing friend of the University and we were proud to award him an Honorary Degree in 2011, where he became a Doctor in Civil Law. At his oration, Professor Robert Gill remarked on Dean Robert’s work as a peace-maker and lover of culture who was integral to both the Cathedral and the wider Anglican Community. He will be greatly missed by the University community and all who knew him personally. We send our sincere condolences to Fletcher, his friends and all those who loved him.