Remembering Ken Wright, CHE’s former Deputy Director

Posted on Friday 20 March 2026

Ken was based at the University of York even before the advent of CHE in 1983. In the 1970s, he was part of the original Institute for Economic and Social Research (ISER) at the University, which later became the Institute for Research in Social Science (IRISS). 

He was one of the five founding senior researchers when CHE was set up. He was Deputy Director for many years when Alan Maynard was Director, who referred to Ken as the “rock on which CHE was built”.

Ken had wide interests and was involved in many different research areas but was probably best known for his work on community care. This covered a wide range of topics including specialist community nursing, care for people with learning disabilities and with mental health conditions. He also researched residential and nursing homes. 

Ken retired in September 1995 after working at York for 24 years. In CHE’s annual report for that year Alan Maynard commented:

“Ken’s style reflects his sound Yorkshire upbringing: quiet, no nonsense, detector of horse manure at 1000 yards, conscientious, innovative, a careful researcher and a firm manager.  … The success of CHE, both intellectually and in terms of creating a fun and supportive work environment, owes much to the skills and energy of Ken Wright”. 

Ken’s authority extended far and wide and included government policy on community care and the latest from the cricket world. His deep knowledge of health economics and policy made him a much valued teacher and colleague.  

But “Uncle Ken” was also a friend to the many he worked with at CHE over his long career. He was a modest man - never one to blow his own trumpet and always there behind the scenes to support and give wise advice to everyone. He was kind, principled and fair.