Tributes paid to OU’s former Pro-Chancellor Lord Haskins

Posted on 1 April 2026 • University news

It is with great sadness that we share news of the death of Lord Christopher Haskins, former Pro-Chancellor of The Open University.

Lord Haskins, a former industrialist and peer, he served as the OU’s Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Council from 2005-2014.

Born near Dublin in May 1937, he later moved and made his home in East Yorkshire.

He is remembered for giving his time, energy and talents unstintingly to public service.

A huge supporter of the OU and its graduates

In his working life he was renowned for driving business investment, growth and employment in Humber and North Yorkshire where he chaired the Northern Foods and Express Dairies FTSE 100 company before also founding and chairing the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership.

During his tenure at the OU, Lord Haskins always maintained a high regard for the institution, as both Pro-Chancellor and Chair of the Council.

Speaking at a Dublin Degree Ceremony in Croke Park in April 2015, on receiving a Fellowship Award after he had completed his term of office, he described the OU as “a wonderful institution which has changed the lives of thousands of graduates”.

Looking back at his time and the Fellowship Award he said it was “an honour … to be so closely associated with an organisation that provides huge educational opportunities to people who would never otherwise have considered those accessible to them”.

Speaking this week, Vice-Chancellor of The Open University, Professor Dave Phoenix said:

‘The Open University extends its thoughts and sympathies to the family and friends of Lord Haskins at this sad time. We are extremely grateful for the service he gave during his nine-year tenure as Pro-Chancellor and Chair of Council at The Open University from 2005 to 2014. Lord Haskins was a huge supporter of The Open University and the life-changing opportunities it provides through flexible, online higher education which is open to all.”

Lord Haskins was ennobled as a life peer with the title Baron Haskins, of Skidby, in 1998 and served as a Labour member of the House of Lords until 2020.

His death at the age of 88 was announced on Monday March 30. Read more about Lord Haskins and tributes paid to him in this piece in the Hull Daily Mail newspaper.

Main image: Lord Haskins, taken in 2006 at the opening of the OU Library.