Sam Moore, my older brother, who has died aged 79, was an academic and administrator devoted to the needs of Manchester. He had a long career at the University of Manchester, rising from a junior technician in the computing department to be professor in the Department of Economics (1992-97) and eventually deputy vice chancellor (1990-96) and vice chancellor of the university (1990-92).
He was chairman of the Central Manchester Hospitals NHS Trust (1991-2001) and Stockport Primary Care NHS Trust (2001-02). He served as a magistrate and was chairman of the City of Manchester bench. Sam was appointed as a deputy lieutenant in 2007 and greatly enjoyed presiding over citizenship ceremonies, seeing the joy and enthusiasm of new citizens.
Over the years he was involved in a number of voluntary and charitable organisations and recently he returned to education as an active member on the board of governors for Hulme Hall grammar school, Edgeley, Stockport.
He was born Stuart Alfred Moore (“SAM”) in Stockport, the eldest of three sons of Kay (nee Dodds) and Alf Moore. Our dad was a bus driver for Manchester Corporation and mum was a cleaner. We were brought up in a two-up two-down in Reddish with an outside toilet and a tin bath on the backyard wall. Sam shared a bedroom with me and our younger brother, John. In the 50s we roamed Reddish Vale having adventures. Sam was always our protective big brother, of whom we were truly proud.
He was a butcher’s boy and later worked part time in the local hardware shop. His earnings and tips were an important contribution to the family income; I can remember old pennies and halfpennies that Sam had brought home being counted out on the scrubbed kitchen table.
Sam was educated at Stockport school, then gained a place at a teacher training college but delayed starting in order to take a student teacher’s post in a local secondary modern school. He stayed on for a further year, thereby becoming one of the longest serving members of staff. Managing and dealing with some of the escapades of teenagers had a maturing influence. In the end he decided not to be a school teacher and joined what was then known as the Victoria University of Manchester as a computer technician, studying part-time for a BA in administration and an MA in economics.
He met Diana Connery through university acquaintances and they were married in 1966. Sam is survived by Diana, their three children, Lucy, Chris and Mike, and eight grandchildren, Nathan, Lewis, Dean, Becky, Hannah, Daniel, Scarlett and Cadence, and by John and me.
