TV historian Richard Holmes dies, aged 65

Tributes have poured in to war historian and TV presenter Professor Richard Holmes CBE, who has died aged 65 after a battle with cancer. Holmes, who wrote more than 20 books and fronted several BBC programmes, including documentaries on Winston Churchill and Oliver Cromwell, passed away in hospital in the early hours of Saturday.

Major general Sir Evelyn Webb-Carter, chief executive of soldiers’ charity ABF, said that he was “absolutely mortified” at the news of Holmes’s death, describing him as a “wonderful historian with an incredible recall”.

“He also had a most engaging wit and humour and the way in which he conveyed the historical message was sublime. One has lost an entire library with his death,” Webb-Carter added.

“He was a wonderful man, a good family man. Above all he was a great raconteur, wonderful to be with, entertaining. He was an enchanting man to know.”

Holmes had been suffering from a range of health problems, including myeloma, a bone marrow cancer that weakens the immune system. He died from pneumonia.

The former Territorial Army brigadier served at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, before joining Cranfield University in 1986, where he worked until recently as Professor of Military and Security Studies.

Steph Muir, who was Holmes’s personal assistant for 15 years, described the historian as a “unique person”.

“They broke the mould after he was made. He was one of life’s gentlemen, in the best sense of the word. He was a gentle man and a gentleman,” said Muir.

“His depth of knowledge was amazing and he had a magical way with words. He touched so many lives.”