Obituary: Kirk Handley

We are deeply saddened to confirm the death of Kirk Handley, a long-standing and highly valued member of staff at the School of Earth and Environment, University of Leeds.

Kirk joined the Department of Earth Sciences (now part of the School of Earth and Environment) in 1986 as a member of the technical staff. He dedicated his career to supporting teaching and research and was instrumental in the operation of the Rock Mechanics, Engineering Geology, and Hydrogeology Laboratory, providing invaluable assistance to generations of MSc and PhD students. His technical expertise, when setting up equipment, assisting with field sampling and willingness to help were widely appreciated by colleagues and students alike.

Kirk was also a familiar presence on field trips to locations such as Broadway in the Cotswolds and the Yorkshire coast, and he regularly attended Leeds Engineering Geology Society (LEGS) gatherings, where many of us fondly remember sharing time with him.

Outside of his professional life, Kirk was passionate about mountaineering, cross-country skiing and rock climbing. He was also an avid amateur astronomer and eclipse chaser, travelling to observe these rare celestial events and sharing his enthusiasm for physics and cosmology with friends and colleagues alike.

Kirk passed away in September 2024 while on a solo mountaineering trip in the Col d’Arsine area of the Hautes-Alpes, France. Despite extensive search efforts, his remains were not recovered until the following summer. Our thoughts remain with Kirk’s family and friends as we continue to remember his patience, generosity, and adventurous spirit. He will be sorely missed by his colleagues and friends at the University of Leeds and within the wider geological community.