Tributes have been paid to a University of Sheffield professor who has been described as an outstanding scholar and inspiring mentor.

Peter Warr, previously a director of the social and applied psychology unit at the University of Sheffield, died on Monday. 

After gaining a BA from the University of Cambridge and a PhD from the University of Sheffield, Prof Warr helped to set up the Social and Applied Psychology unit (SAPU) at the University of Sheffield in 1968. This was later incorporated within the Institute of Work Psychology (IWP), as it is now known. 

Those who worked with Warr were quick to share admiration of their esteemed colleague.

Rachael Finn said: “We’re deeply saddened at the loss of Professor Peter Warr, our wonderful colleague, outstanding scholar, inspiring mentor and friend to so many.” 

Throughout his time in the field of psychology, Prof Warr was presented with awards such as the Spearman Medal of the British Psychological Society for distinguished research and the Presidents’ Award of the British Psychological Society for outstanding contributions to psychological knowledge. 

The University of Sheffield Management School, in which Prof Warr was based due to his pioneering work on the relation between workplace and employee well-being through occupational psychology, said: “It is with great sadness that we share the news that Professor Peter Warr has passed away.

“Peter leaves behind a legacy at the Management School having founded the SAPU which would become the IWP of today. Peter will be sorely missed by all of us at the Management School and our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.” 

Alongside his work with students as a professor, Peter Warr also wrote books detailing his field such as ‘Work happiness and unhappiness’ (2007), ‘The Psychology of Happiness’ (2019) and ‘The Joy of Work?’ (2009). 

Images from The University of Sheffield.