Michael Wilkes (academic)

(Francis) Michael Wilkes (1941–2015) was a British academic, former Lord Mayor of Birmingham, and former Chancellor of Birmingham City University.[1]

Background

Michael Wilkes was born in Brettell Lane, Amblecote, Stourbridge, in 1941.

Wilkes was educated at St Philip's Grammar School in Birmingham. He graduated from the University of Birmingham with the degrees of BSocSc and PhD.

Wilkes has been an Emeritus Professor of Birmingham University since 2002. He was Professor of business investment and management at Birmingham University from 1991 to 2002. He was formerly lecturer and then senior lecturer at Birmingham University. Wilkes had secondments to Aston University and to Northwestern University in the USA.

He was Chancellor of Birmingham City University from 2009 to 2010.[2] Wilkes was Lord Mayor of Birmingham from 2009 to 2010.[3]

Wilkes was a leading expert on Lord of the Rings, Chairman of the Birmingham Tolkien Group, member of the Tolkien Society[4] and a founding member of Birmingham's Middle Earth Weekend.[5]

He was a vice chair of the Lunar Society.[6]

Politics

He was a Liberal Democrat member of Birmingham City Council from 1984 to 1992 and from 2000 to 2012, when he retired and became an honorary alderman.[7]

He was a member of the Fulbright Scholars' Association.[8][9][10]

Death

On 17 April 2015, Wilkes died at St. Mary's Hospice from cancer, age 73.[11][12][13]

References
  1. "Deputy Lord Mayor's mission to boost Birmingham manufacturing | Birmingham City University". www.bcu.ac.uk. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  2. "Deputy Lord Mayor's mission to boost Birmingham manufacturing - Midlands Business News". Midlands Business News. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  3. Elkes, Neil (19 May 2009). "Hall Green councillor appointed as new Lord Mayor of Birmingham". birminghampost. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  4. "Announcement: key Tolkien figure Mike Wilkes has passed away". The Tolkien Society. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  5. Richardson, Andy (20 April 2015). "Birmingham ex-Lord Mayor Michael Wilkes dies". birminghammail. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  6. "Tribute paid to former Lord Mayor and Lunar Society vice chair - Lunar Society". Lunar Society. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  7. Elkes, Neil (3 May 2012). "Former Lord Mayor Michael Wilkes retires from Birmingham City Council". birminghammail. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  8. "Debrett's - The trusted source on British social skills, etiquette and style-Debrett's". Debretts.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  9. "Birmingham Conservatoire : Latest News and Podcasts". Bcu.ac.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  10. "Birmingham City University : Deputy Lord Mayor's mission to boost Birmingham manufacturing". Bcu.ac.uk. 29 October 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  11. Richardson, Andy (20 April 2015). "Birmingham ex-Lord Mayor Michael Wilkes dies". birminghammail. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  12. Elkes, Neil (20 April 2015). "Tributes to former Lord Mayor Michael Wilkes". birminghampost. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
  13. "Announcement: key Tolkien figure Mike Wilkes has passed away". The Tolkien Society. 22 April 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
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