Derek Robin Diamond (1933–2015) was an applied geographer and academic. He was Professor of Geography at the

London School of Economics , mottoeng = To understand the causes of things , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £240.8 million (2021) , budget = £391.1 millio ...

between 1982 and 1995, and was a specialist in urban and regional planning.

Early life and education

Diamond was born on 18 May 1933, the son of the Labour Party politician

Jack Diamond, Baron Diamond John Diamond, Baron Diamond, PC (30 April 1907 – 3 April 2004) was a British Labour Party politician. Diamond was educated at Leeds Grammar School and became an accountant. He was elected Member of Parliament in 1945 for the Blackley divi ...

, and his wife Sadie."Diamond, Prof. Derek Robin"
''

Who Was Who ''Who's Who'' is a reference work. It is a book, and also a CD-ROM and a website, giving information on influential people from around the world. Published annually as a book since 1849, it lists people who influence British life, according to i ...

'' (online edition, Oxford University Press, December 2016). Retrieved 6 March 2019.Martin Scott, obituary of Derek Diamond in ''Town and Country Planning'', June 2015, reproduced a
"In memoriam: Derek Diamond 1933–2015"
''School of Geography and the Environment'' (University of Oxford). Retrieved 6 March 2019. He studied geography at

Pembroke College, Oxford Pembroke College, a constituent college of the University of Oxford, is located at Pembroke Square, Oxford. The college was founded in 1624 by King James I of England, using in part the endowment of merchant Thomas Tesdale, and was named after ...

, graduating in 1955; he then completed a

Master of Science A Master of Science ( la, Magisterii Scientiae; abbreviated MS, M.S., MSc, M.Sc., SM, S.M., ScM or Sc.M.) is a master's degree in the field of science awarded by universities in many countries or a person holding such a degree. In contrast to ...

degree at

Northwestern University Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Charte ...

, which was awarded in 1957.

Career

In 1957, he began teaching at the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

as a lecturer in geography; in 1965, he was appointed to a lectureship in town and regional planning. He then arrived at the

London School of Economics , mottoeng = To understand the causes of things , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £240.8 million (2021) , budget = £391.1 millio ...

in 1968 as Reader in Geography, and remained at the LSE for the rest of his career, being promoted in 1982 to Professor of Geography. On arrival, he was put in charge of the urban and regional planning programme and directed the

master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is an academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice.

and

doctorate A doctorate (from Latin ''docere'', "to teach"), doctor's degree (from Latin ''doctor'', "teacher"), or doctoral degree is an academic degree awarded by universities and some other educational institutions, derived from the ancient formalism ''l ...

in planning courses up to 1979. He was also Director of the

Greater London Group The Greater London Group (noLSE London was a research centre at the London School of Economics that was created in 1958 and focused on issues of London government. It has been recognised as having had a significant impact during the 1960s and upon ...

between 1980 and 1995, and Convener of the Department of Geography between 1983 and 1987 and again between 1990 and 1992; he was Vice-Chairman of the Academic Board from 1988 and 1993 and was the Interim Director of the newly established Gender Institute for the 1993–94 academic year.Nancy Holman
"Derek Diamond"
''LSE Blogs'' (

London School of Economics , mottoeng = To understand the causes of things , established = , type = Public research university , endowment = £240.8 million (2021) , budget = £391.1 millio ...

), 15 May 2015. Retrieved 6 March 2019.Holman states that Diamond was chair of the Greater London Group between 1980 and 1995, although

George William Jones George William Jones (4 February 1938 – 14 April 2017) was emeritus professor of government at the London School of Economics and the biographer, with Bernard Donoughue, of Herbert Morrison. Jones was a longtime member of the Greater London G ...

states elsewhere that Diamond succeeded Peter Self as chair; Self left the LSE in 1982 (George Jones, "The Greater London Group after 50 years", in Ben Kochan
''London Government: 50 Years of Debate: The Contribution of LSE's Greater London Group''
(London School of Economics, 2008), p. 19
"Self, Prof. Peter John Otter"
''Who Was Who'' (online edition, Oxford University Press, December 2007). Retrieved 6 March 2019). Diamond was also Chairman of the

Regional Studies Association The Regional Studies Association is a learned society with an international network of academics, policy makers and practitioner members. It was founded in 1965, following the foundation of the Regional Science Association in the USA and Internatio ...

between 1974 and 1976, President of the

Institute of British Geographers The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical scien ...

for the year 1994–95, and a vice-president of the

Town and Country Planning Association The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) is an independent research and campaigning charity founded and based in the United Kingdom. It works to enable homes, places and communities in which everyone can thrive. Through its research, tr ...

. He was editor of the journals ''

Town and Country Planning Town and country planning in the United Kingdom is the part of English land law which concerns land use planning. Its goal is to ensure sustainable economic development and a better environment. Each country of the United Kingdom has its own ...

'' (1972 to 1981), '' Progress in Planning'' (from 1973 to 2003) and '' Geoforum'' (between 1974 and 1993). He retired from the LSE in 1995, but was appointed to an

emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

professorship there, and was made an

honorary fellow Honorary titles (professor, reader, lecturer) in academia may be conferred on persons in recognition of contributions by a non-employee or by an employee beyond regular duties. This practice primarily exists in the UK and Germany, as well as in m ...

in 2006. Diamond died on 6 May 2015; he was survived by his wife, Esme, and their two children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diamond, Derek 1933 births 2015 deaths British geographers Alumni of Pembroke College, Oxford Northwestern University alumni Academics of the University of Glasgow Academics of the London School of Economics