James Gatehouse-Cross, lecturer

Born and raised in Leeds, he was the first person in his immediate family to go to university – beginning his BA at Hartford College, Oxford, where he spent a year, and then pursuing his interest in sociology at Margaret MacMillan College, Bradford. There, he achieved both his undergraduate degree and certificate of education.

After obtaining his MA in economic and social studies at Manchester University in 1977, he completed his PhD in two years, at Salford University.

A year followed as a fellow at the Centre for Television Research in Leeds, and it was here that his work on putting cameras in the Commons, and on televising other parliamentary proceedings, was conducted. The final report was provided to the Independent Broadcasting Authority.

In 1981, he began working at what is now Leeds Trinity University as a lecturer in Media Studies, and he remained there until his retirement in 2013.

He was a co-founder and senior partner in Of Cross Analysis, a company that delivered market research and business intelligence to the culture industries, including the National Museum of Photography, the Museums and Galleries Commission and the Catholic Church.

Always a passionate photographer, he published, taught, and wrote critically about the medium.

He was a licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society and his pictures were featured on the covers of several poetry collections and at exhibitions.

A considerable body of work also included multiple papers at international conferences, particularly on the subject of torn posters, which he captured in images and a series of publications.

He is survived by his daughter Vanessa, son James and stepdaughter Amanda, and by a sister, Juilie. His wife, Margaret, predeceased him.