My husband, Aidan Rose, who has died aged 65, was a talented academic in public administration.
In 1994 Aidan was appointed lead academic for London Metropolitan University’s Institutional Strengthening Project in Ukraine, a critical venture during the tumultuous period following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The governments of the UK, through its Know How Fund, and Canada were investing in the development of new courses for aspiring and talented public servants, and seeking to build a strong foundation for public service in Ukraine.
Working with colleagues in Ukraine and from across Canada, Aidan was central to the project’s success. At the newly established Ukrainian Institute of Public Administration in Kyiv, he helped develop a master’s in public administration and to provide internship programmes in the UK for its students.
Over a 10-year period he made 36 visits to Ukraine, travelling to Kyiv and beyond, to Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv and Odesa. Aidan was deeply affected by the recent challenges faced by his Ukrainian colleagues in defending their country. He hoped fervently for the eventual rebuilding of their communities.
Aidan was born in Edinburgh, the eldest of three children of Jane (nee Orr), and Anthony Rose, who were both microbiologists. He was proud of his Scottish heritage, and though Aidan’s formative years were spent in Newcastle and Bath, where the family moved according to academic appointments, his love for Scotland never waned. This was evident in his unwavering support for the Scotland football team.
After leaving City of Bath boys’ school (now Beechen Cliff), he earned a degree in public and social policy from Bradford University in 1981. In 1991 he was awarded a doctorate in philosophy from Teesside Polytechnic with a dissertation on “The ethical accountability of the elected member in local government in England and Wales”.
Aidan’s career began as a lecturer in public administration at Teesside Polytechnic. He moved to Newcastle Polytechnic in 1987 and in 1994 joined the University of North London (now London Metropolitan University), where he became associate head of the school of law, governance and international relations. After leaving London Metropolitan in 2009, Aidan ventured into consultancy, advising the mayor of Elbasan, Albania, on a strategic plan for the city, and the European Commission on results-based budgeting. He juggled this with an external examiner role for public administration courses.
Aidan was also committed to his local community in Haringey, north London, and served as chair of governors of Campsbourne primary school from 2007 to 2010.
He was a devoted supporter of West Bromwich Albion football team, and a member of the editorial team of the London supporters’ magazine, Baggie Shorts. WBA brought him immense joy and friendship, even in his final days, when he was suffering from several chronic health conditions. In all his endeavours, Aidan’s intellect, wit, and humour shone out.
Aidan and I met in 1986 and married two years later. I survive him, along with his mother and his sister, Sarah, and brother, Simon.
