7 February 2026
Robert Wyke (1954 – 23.1.2026)
It is with great sadness that the Trustees of the Laurence Sterne Trust record the death of its Chairman, Rob Wyke, aged 71. Rob was a lifelong enthusiast for Laurence Sterne and succeded Nicholas Barker as Chair on 31st May 2010, having been a supporter of the Laurence Sterne Trust for many years before that.
Rob studied English at St. Catharine’s College, Cambridge and after one or two teaching jobs in the UK spent eight years in Greece teaching English.
He returned to the UK in the 1980’s when he was appointed Head of English at Winchester College where he subsequently became a house master and then second master.
He was exceedingly bookish, and included in his own library was an almost complete collection of the World’s Classics, an exceptional collection of Edward Gorey and a good collection of books by and related to Laurence Sterne.
He worked tirelessly for the Trust and will be missed by all who knew him.
P.B.Miller
Obituary: The Times 5th February 2026
Funeral service 12.30pm on 3rd March at St Mary Bishophill Junior, York YO1 6EN. Family flowers only, donations if desired to the Laurence Sterne Trust.
Donations in tribute to Rob will be gratefully received by the Laurence Sterne Trust, and can be made on the donations page.
