Norman Jepson

He pioneered adult education through some difficult early years in higher education, but his vision helped to shape a new era of such work, and which eventually led to today's Lifelong Learning Centre at Leeds University.

He was born in Glossop, educated at Glossop Grammar School and Manchester University, but his university education was interrupted by the Second World War when he served as a pilot in the RAF stationed in Iceland.

He returned to university in 1945 where he was awarded a first in history and then took a PhD in adult education.

After the war, he studied criminology and research methods in the United States at the universities of Ohio State and Southern California.

He joined Leeds University in 1948 as an administrative assistant in what was then the Extramural Studies Department.

During his long service there, the department changed its title and focus several times, but finally under his leadership was the Department of Adult and Continuing Education providing specialised and general courses for mature students.

As the department grew, he skilfully managed a large full-time and part-time staff of over 100 who covered a wide range of subjects, operating in an area stretching from Middlesbrough to Barnsley.

He showed the same concern and dedication to supporting his staff as he did to developing the department and he was not afraid of speaking out when its work was under threat.

During Adult Education Week in 1980, which had been set up to publicise the benefits of such work, he challenged the then Government not to make further cuts in what he believed was seen as an easy target.

He said adult education had opened up the university's vast resources to working people often giving them the chance of a new career or lifestyle.

He was successively a lecturer, senior lecturer and, in 1970, became Professor of Adult Education. On retirement in 1983, he was appointed Emeritus Professor.

As an historian he also found time to chart the development of higher and adult education. His work led to many publications including The Beginnings of University Adult Education.

Nationally he was secretary to the Universities Council for Adult Education.

But his academic interests also covered social studies, especially in the area of criminology and he worked closely with the police, Prison Service and magistrates developing courses for them and for probation officers, child care officers and other social welfare services.

He was also an adviser on studies and research for the Prison Service Staff College, at Wakefield, the first person to hold such a post, and a member of the Lord Chancellor's Judicial Studies Board.

His criminological and social work were not confined to one side as he took an interest in the rehabilitation of offenders and was a founder member of Kirkstall Lodge, a hostel for ex-offenders. He also worked with the National Association for Mental Health (MIND) during the 1960s and 1970s, was a member of Barnardo's Council and Executive Committee in the 1980s and 1990s, and on West Yorkshire Probation Committee from the 1970s to 1990s.

In 1983 his work was recognised with the award of a CBE.

Professor Jepson is survived by his three sons, Robin, Nigel and Mark, and three grandchildren, Nicola, Ellen and Robert. His wife of 59 years, Renee, died last year. A funeral service will be at Alwoodley Park Methodist Church, Leeds, on Wednesday at 3.30pm. Donations may be made to Barnardo's.