My friend Iain Smith, who has died of a stroke aged 82, was a historian specialising in British colonial history who spent 37 years at the University of Warwick. He combined liberal broad-mindedness and boundless curiosity with an active spirit.
Iain was born in Hull to Alexander Smith, a dentist, and his wife, Amy (nee Cheetham). Attending Bootham school, York, he took on board and retained its Quaker values of service for the rest of his life. He served on the board of governors of another Quaker school, Leighton Park, Reading, for many years.
