A University of Birmingham lecturer who once tutored former Prime Minister David Cameron has died after battling covid-19.
Peter Sinclair was emeritus economics professor at Birmingham Business School and died yesterday aged 73 after spending weeks in intensive care battling the disease.
Mr Sinclair was professor of economics at the university from 1994 and, after retiring in 2012, continued teaching as an emeritus professor.
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Before taking up his post in Birmingham, he had taught economics at Oxford for 24 years, mainly in economic theory, monetary policy and international economics at Brasenose College where Mr Cameron was one of his students.
University of Birmingham said he was widely respected in his field and had published work on a range of subjects including the optimal rate of inflation, unemployment, tax questions and central bank independence.
Outside of the university, Mr Sinclair contributed his expertise and knowledge to the Bank of England and in 2000 served as the director of its Centre for Central Banking Studies where he taught staff from all over the world.
He maintained strong links after he stood down as director in 2008, often returning as a visiting academic, advising on research and teaching graduate entrants for many years.
Among his other former pupils were King Letsie III of Lesotho, Baroness Camilla Cavendish, a British journalist and former director of policy at Number 10 Downing Street, and Sir Dave Ramsden, a former chief economic adviser to the Treasury.
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Sir David Eastwood, vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Birmingham, said: "Our thoughts and deep sympathies are with his family.
"Peter was a great figure in two universities. The record of his students who went on to great things is remarkable and a testimony to him as a great teacher.
"Peter was a very fine economist, one who believed that economics was not a 'dismal science' but a discipline that, properly practiced, would and should make the world a better place.
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"I remember Peter as someone who was wholeheartedly committed to our university, to making the experience of students better and to giving many access to, and understanding of, the discipline of economics.
"He was a self-effacing, but much-loved, presence at events I hosted, always appreciative of the insights and kindness of others, gentle but authoritative in everything he said and someone whose company many people relished.
"In the sadness of his loss, we remember how much he gave and how generously he did it."
Mr Cameron paid his own tribute to the professor, saying: "Peter was one of the kindest, as well as one of the cleverest, people I ever met.
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"His enthusiasm for economics and solving problems was extraordinary and he inspired generations of students. He kept in touch with his students long after they left university and continued to mentor and help them.
"It was a complete privilege to know him. My love and prayers are with Jayne and his family and his many friends. He will be dearly missed."
Peter is survived by his wife, Jayne Ivimey, who he married in 2016 and has been set up for people to leave a message in his memory