Bruce Graham, Research Professor of Politics, died suddenly on 3 October from a heart attack.
Bruce had been at Sussex almost from the outset, coming to Sussex in 1964, and during that time he played a key role in building up Politics at Sussex.
As a scholar he was unusual in making substantial contributions to the study of French and Indian politics (as well as his early work on Australian politics) and, as a consequence, Bruce moved from his original appointment in the School of African and Asian Studies to the School of European Studies, from where he retired in 1997. In between, Bruce served as Director of the Graduate School and then as Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the University.
As a person Bruce was incredibly gentle and patient. He dealt with everyone the same way, with real thoughtfulness and with politeness, and he generated real affection from faculty, staff and students alike. He would produce pages of typed comments on the shortest of essays for students and was unfailingly generous with his time and energies in teaching students and with his colleagues.
In retirement Bruce was in his element. Working one part of each day on India and one part on France and with the company of his wife Naomi, he finally had the chance to work uninterrupted on what he enjoyed the most.
Bruce leaves a legacy of scholarship on comparative politics at Sussex. He also leaves an abiding sense of affection from those across the University who knew him.