My father, Roy Douglas. who has died aged 95, was an academic specialising in modern history, law and politics who wrote or contributed to more than 20 books, including titles such as Law for Technologists (1964) and Land, People & Politics: A History of the Land Question in the United Kingdom, 1878-1952 (1976).
Roy was born in Hampstead, north London, the only child of Percy Douglas, who was company secretary at the Lady magazine, and his wife, Lilian (nee Bowley). After attending Mitcham County grammar school he went to King’s College London, where he got a degree in zoology. He then completed his PhD in zoology at Edinburgh University and was appointed by Battersea Polytechnic in London to run a biology course.
After a time, however, he decided to become a barrister, hoping eventually to make use of his scientific background to work in patents. He was called to the bar in 1956 as a member of Gray’s Inn and was just starting to practise when changes at Battersea Polytechnic (by then Battersea College of Technology) led him to return as an emeritus reader in general studies. He taught there, and at Surrey University, which it became, for more than 50 years, giving his final lecture at Guildford Institute in 2017.
A political activist, Roy joined the Liberal party when he was 16 and stood unsuccessfully as a parliamentary candidate five times in the 1950s and 60s. He chaired national meetings, spoke at events and contributed to many party publications, including the Journal of Liberal History. He also wrote The History of the Liberal Party 1895-1970 (1971).
His membership finally ended when the party entered into coalition with the Conservatives. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of UK parliamentary constituencies, byelections and national election results and a phenomenal memory for minutiae and obscure facts.
Even into old age Roy retained a boyish curiosity about all subjects. He was exceptionally well read and could converse on a variety of topics. His last book, Enemies of War, about opponents of the first world war, was completed shortly before his death, and will be published posthumously.
He is survived by his wife, Jean (nee Roberts), whom he met through the Young Liberals and married in 1955, their children, Mick, Claire, Nigel and me, and grandchildren, Aimee, Mollie, Kate and Callum.
