Tribute to Jim McMillan

The School of History, Classics and Archaeology is to create six postgraduate bursaries in tribute to Professor Jim McMillan.

Jim McMillan, the Richard Pares Professor of History, died aged 61 on 22 February 2010 following a long battle with cancer.

Commemorative acts

The McMillan Scholarships have been set up to honour Professor McMillan’s work in developing the School’s postgraduate community.

In addition, a new common room for the School’s academic staff and postgraduate students will be named after the professor.

The McMillan Room will be located at the School’s new premises in the restored west wing of the University’s Old Medical Building.

The School will relocate to these premises this summer.

Distinguished career

Jim McMillan came to Edinburgh in 1999 after a distinguished career in history at the universities of York and Strathclyde.

In 2002 he became the first Head of (what was then) History and Classics.

The School experienced an expansion in the numbers of its academic staff and students under his leadership.

Among Jim's central leadership qualities were fairness and accessibility, an enormous good humour, together with great sociability and conviviality. He was much loved within the School, for whom his spirit and achievements will live on in the new premises and beyond.