Dr Gordon MacLeod (1964–2022)

Abstract

Dr Gordon MacLeod, Reader in Human Geography at Durham University, died on 14th October 2022, aged 58 (Figure 1). Gordon was an internationally significant thinker and shaper of interdisciplinary debates in urban and regional political economy. His distinctive writing style – a brilliant thematic synthesis of literatures from many disciplinary fields, blended with commentaries on policy, politics, and personalities – captured the imagination of established academics and deeply influenced a critical generation of graduate students around the world. Gordon’s generosity of academic character was matched by a gregarious willingness to always share, discuss, and debate ideas, throughout the working day and conference night. He leaves a corpus of work of significant international standing that continues to provide a benchmark for high-quality geographical political economy through the dynamic interface between economic and political geography. Born on the 19th May 1964 in Stornoway, Lewis, in the Western Isles, Gordon MacLeod was the son of a civil servant (Father, Donnie) and retailer (Mother, Peggy). The family was known as entrepreneurs and smart intelligent folk. He was an only child and lived at 16 North Figure 1. Gordon MacLeod, Tolsta Beech, Isle of Lewis, 2009.