Tributes have been paid to a "knowledgeable, witty and generous" historian and lecturer, who has died aged 79.
Dr Ian Keil was one of the founder members of Loughborough University's economics department in the 1970s.
He was also a prolific author who wrote about the history of Loughborough, a regular speaker at historical societies and a contributor to the Loughborough edition of the Leicester Mercury.
Dr Keil, who lived in Loughborough, died at Leicester Royal Infirmary on October 17, from heart failure.
Loughborough University's Professor Thomas Weyman-Jones, a former colleague of Dr Keil, said: "He was a great friend and colleague to all staff and students, who revered his depth of knowledge and teaching skills.
"He was a well-known expert in local history and an extremely witty man, and will be very fondly remembered by all who knew him."
Dr Keil was one of the founder members of the university's department of economics – now part of the school of business and economics – and was senior lecturer in economic history for many years. He was also a leading committee member of the Loughborough museum and library and chairman of the Loughborough Archaeological and Historical Society.
Along with his wife, Teresa, he organised an exhibition in 2009 to mark the centenary of Loughborough University.
Don Wix, of Loughborough, co-authored 10 local history books with Dr Keil and a history of the Amateur Swimming Association. He said: "He was an extremely knowledgeable, generous and witty man."
Dr Keil was also a lecturer at Bristol University.
Professor Ronald Hutton, of the university' arts department, said: "The department has lost a true friend.
"Dr Keil marked both his own love of history, as a medievalist, and his affection for its teaching at Bristol, in the most helpful possible way: by making regular large donations of money to assist postgraduate research students in need.
"The department, which has become accustomed to drinking his health, now raises a glass to him and his wife Teresa, who survives him."
His funeral will be held at Loughborough Crematorium on Thursday, November 1, at 11.45am.
