Dr David John Whittaker died on September 11, aged 92.

Born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, he was most recently resident in Richmond, North Yorkshire.

He died from heart failure.

From 1943 to 1946 he served with the Royal Navy.

He taught in Leeds and Derby between 1950 and 1966, before moving to Darlington College of Education, where he remained until 1979. From 1985 to 1997 he was employed at Teeside Polytechnic.

He leaves a son and two daughters, seven grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.

A service was held on September 25, at St. Mary's Richmond, followed by cremation at Darlington Crematorium.

Gillian Lunn officiated and an address was given by Paul Whittaker. Arrangements were made by Blenkiron of Richmond.

As a teacher, Dr Whittaker's research interests were European comparative education and language teaching.

As an academic, and in retirement, he published books on the United Nations, international peace and reconciliation and the plight of refugees and asylum seekers in modern-day conflicts.

Particularly popular were the number of books he wrote on terrorism, which have been used as textbooks in American universities and translated into Portuguese for use in Brazilian Army training colleges.

His recent books were on the creative teaching of woodwork in Scandinavian schools and a study of the modern cultural and political history of Iceland, published in 2016.

He often had a twinkle in his eye and a quiet sense of humour.

He was confident in his Yorkshire upbringing and heritage, but always engaged with the issues of the wider world.

In every way he was a man interested in understanding how the world worked, why and how to make it better.

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