Alumni remembered

Valerie’s family lived in Small Heath, Birmingham. She studied history at the University of Birmingham 1955-58. She then took a secretarial course at the College of Commerce. Here she met Alan Hawgood who was on a librarianship course; they met through enjoying parties and dancing. Alan also was a Birmingham graduate (BA Italian and Spanish, 1955). Alan’s father was John A Hawgood (1905-1971), Professor of History.

Valerie started work in the University as secretary to Donald Dudley (1910-1972), Professor of Latin, formerly Director of Extra-Mural Studies. Valerie married Alan and they moved as he got library jobs in Stafford, then Exeter where Valerie worked in the University department of history, then Liverpool where he became international librarian. The family moved to Formby. Sadly Alan contracted skin cancer and died in 1975. This left Valerie with children aged four and nine. She became a school secretary as a job possible with school-age children. She was then a widow in Formby for 50 years with support of family and many local friends, including two with whom she “lived together apart”.

Latterly she developed muscular pains and dementia, supported by friends and  family living nearby. She was active in many local organisations including the Methodist church. Valerie travelled all over Europe and to the USA by coach and cruise, never by plane. In 1995 she edited “First World War letters of 2nd Lt. Bernard Wilfred Long 1896-1917". Bernard was her uncle who obtained a University of Birmingham BSc in Applied Science, joined the University OTC, then was killed at Ypres.

Anybody who is honoured to receive a King’s Award for voluntary services is special, but how many are still active champions at the age of 95? Dr Patricia Fleetwood-Walker was one such rare breed and only a week before she died, she was on a Teams board meeting with the City of Birmingham‘s Prevention First Citizen’s Panel. But she was not only an advocate for service users, having been a life-long carer, she was also an innovator who put her intelligence and passion to work in all the areas of her life: inspiring her family of six children with all kinds of entertaining projects; developing life-long learning in the world of academia, medicine and business; giving support to the Labour Party; enjoying The Arts, keeping up to date with scientific developments and much laughter and debate with her many and diverse friends.

Pat was born in Birmingham, UK, against the back-drop of the Wall Street crash. She was the second child of working-classing parents Karl and Katie Fleetwood. Katie dreamed of teaching, but instead helped run her own parents’ business, Langs Sweets, at Five Ways, Birmingham. Karle was a mechanical engineer with a love of reading to the family, including The Seven Pillars of Wisdom and tales of Ernest Shackleton, which encouraged the children’s lively interest in the world around them. Both children were obviously academic (John studied engineering before joining the Dominican Order).

Before the age of five, in the absence of antibiotics or a health service, Pat very nearly died twice after serious bouts of pneumonia, involving days of unconsciousness. When she finally opened her eyes and asked: “Can I have a sweetie Granny?”, she couldn’t understand why this induced her grandmother to cry. She spent a couple of years at George Dixon Primary School, before being funded to attend St Paul’s Convent School. She went on to receive a rare scholarship to study Botany at the University of Birmingham and so managed to cross not only class boundaries but those of gender too.

While Pat studied for her PhD, majoring on the fungus that caused the Irish potato blight, her brother John encouraged her to get involved in leading the boys at St Philip’s Scout troop in Edgbaston and there she met fellow scout leader Colin Fleetwood-Walker (1921-1987). Colin was an architect, son of the portrait painter Bernard Fleetwood Walker (1993-1965) and a survivor of the WW2 Arctic Convoys. Pat and Colin married in 1953, surrounded by cub scouts. For a while Pat did the accounts for Colin’s architectural firm. The couple went on to have six children: Susan, Judith, Rebecca, Jonathan, Ruth and David. So focussed was Pat on continuing to develop her mind, that she would prop a Teach-Yourself-Russian handbook behind the taps, while hand washing piles of laundry.

The 1970s and 1980s were a particularly turbulent time for the family, with many life-changing and seminal challenges, not least of which was the death of Jonny (1959-1976) in a motorbike accident. This was followed by Colin’s chronic illness and later his death in 1987.

Throughout all this time Pat not only looked after and provided for the family but increasingly became the main bread-winner, firstly in the Educational Services Unit at the University of Birmingham and later at the University of Aston in Birmingham as Head of Extension Education; a ground-breaking team who worked with academics (in both the US and UK) and industry to develop tutored video instruction and materials, enabling the huge waves of innovation that dominated the economy of the 1980s.

Pat retired in 1994 but never stopped working, continuing to be very active in promoting sustainable communities in the West Midlands. Of these (and particularly close to her heart) the Birmingham Citizen’s Panel who work to maintain and raise standards of support for vulnerable people. In recognition of their commitment, Citizen’s Panel members (including Pat) were awarded the Kings Award for Voluntary Service in May 2024.

At her 90^th birthday celebration, Pat attributed her long life to the NHS, luck (as a student, she was almost run over by a motorbike) but mainly to family and friends who helped her to live independently. As a long-term Labour Party member and supporter, Pat was rewarded with a Labour win just four days before she died and in her delight gave a huge smile and thumbs up to the ward staff at the QE Hospital.

Further details are available online.

Myra Ali (BA Eastern Mediterranean History, 2014), the noted celebrity journalist, has recently passed away.

Myra lived with the rare condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) – which causes second-degree burn-like blistering, wounds and scars to appear all over her body. In the United Kingdom only 5,000 people have it. There is no cure and all that can be done is to treat the effects of the disorder through things like bandaging irritated areas and pain management.

However, Myra’s condition did not stop her from pursuing her passion for journalism and making a success in her chosen field as an entertainment and celebrity reporter. During her career, she interviewed some of the most prominent Hollywood celebrities in the world, from Tom Holland and Samuel L. Jackson to Jamie Foxx, Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed. She has written #1 trending articles for publications including Forbes, British GQ, Marie Claire, The Guardian, Huffington Post, Stylist, Metro, New York Post and Cosmopolitan. In 2019, she was shortlisted for Woman of the Year.

Myra was also a passionate and vocal champion for body positivity, disabled women, and diversity. She was invited to guest edit BBC 5 Live and to join the University of Cambridge Women in Journalism panel discussion after writing a highly popular article in Stylist magazine on women of colour with disabilities.

Myra will be remembered for her advocacy, using her platform to give voice to those often marginalised or overlooked.

Cameron was born in Scarborough in 1989 and spent his early years there before moving with his family to Aberdeen. He attended Ellon Academy and studied Film Studies and Philosophy at university in Hull and York, before going on to complete a Master of Arts in Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science at the University of Birmingham, graduating with merit in 2016.

Cameron was a passionate and caring man with an unwavering commitment to the rights of all people to have the freedom to be themselves, safe from discrimination, and to the protection of the natural world and environment.

He worked as a volunteer for the Green Party from his late teens, and went on to become the party's Governance Officer. Throughout his life, Cameron also supported various charitable causes. He was well known for his wit and humour and tireless dedication to his work as well as his warm, thoughtful, and patient approach.

Cameron's impact on the world, his contributions, and his kindness continue to inspire and live on in the hearts of everyone who knew him. His memory will forever be cherished by all whose lives he touched.

Thirteen-year-old Gioietta, pretty and outspoken, boarded the French ocean liner SS Champollion in Shanghai, China in January 1947. Traveling with an uncle and her two brothers, ages 12 and 10, she arrived in Marseille, France two months later following a wide eyed journey halfway around the world. A Chinese girl whose father had given her an Italian name, Gioietta’s family and culture were deeply rooted in China, though the connections that would bring her to other parts of the world had already been established. A strong influence in the life of his beloved daughter, Gioietta’s father in particular lived and moved fluidly between continents and cultures.

China’s civil war would come to an end in 1949, with the Chinese Communist Party as victors. At the time that Gioietta left China, her mother was away studying filmmaking in the US. Her father felt compelled to send for his three children to join him in Europe. Given his political ties, he may also have had concern for China’s future. Gioietta’s father studied at the Sorbonne in Paris in the 1920s, married her mother on his return to China, serving as Minister of Education in Chiang Kai-Shek’s Nationalist government, and was then living in Paris again having taken up a post with UNESCO.

In the early years of her life, Gioietta’s family lived in Nanking and later moved to Chengdu where she led an idyllic childhood of rickshaw rides to school and briefly even a panda bear as a pet. Gioietta would go on to live in France, England, Yugoslavia (Croatia), and finally the United States. As early as in her 20s, she thought herself too westernised to be Chinese, too European to be English, and too English to be French, with none fitting her perfectly. Gioietta was an independent spirit who often found herself the unfamiliar figure in an unfamiliar place, making sense of >where she fit in.

Home base was her father’s apartment in Paris across the English Channel, and at age 14 she was enrolled at Badminton School, an all-girls boarding school in Bristol, England. As the only Chinese girl and speaking no more than 20 words of English, she found academic comfort in the maths and sciences where she was able to
excel and give herself a persona. Four years later, now fluent in English and having earned an “Oxbridge accent” no less, she continued on this track, enrolling at Newnham College, University of Cambridge aspiring to be a nuclear physicist in a field where women were rare, which suited her fine.

Always a brilliant student, she went on to earn her PhD in Physics at the University of Birmingham. It was also here that she met her lab partner and future husband. Marijan Petravic was a “handsome and clever” student from Zagreb, Croatia, who was also studying for his PhD, on a state scholarship programme sponsored by the Yugoslav government. Finishing her studies in 1957 and eagerly anticipating the opportunities that awaited her, an already accomplished Gioietta was fittingly excited to start a position as a research physicist at the French Atomic Energy Commision in Paris while Marijan returned to Yugoslavia to complete his military service.

In the spring of 1959, 26-year-old Gioietta, nervous but resolved and with a one way ticket in hand, boarded a train in Paris, arriving in Zagreb that same week. Now married after having earned their doctorates together, in partnership they began working in the same office at the renowned Ruđer Bošković Institute for Scientific Research, embarking on careers in theoretical physics where more often than not they were never more than a hallway apart. Two and a half blissful years were spent in Croatia exploring the region's mountains and the islands of the Adriatic, and feeling first the distance and then the embrace of Marijan’s extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles.

They returned to England in 1961, first working at the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, the UK’s National Laboratory for research in that promising field. Years later, Gioietta proudly accepted a prestigious position as research fellow at St Hilda’s College, University of Oxford. Settling in the small town of Abingdon-on-Thames, in a reddish-brown brick house with two apple trees in the back garden, they joyfully began to raise two sons. Mark and Robin, by right of their birthplace, were the first in the family to be granted the hardcover dark blue British passports. Their connection to Continental Europe remained strong.

Annual winter trips to ski in the Swiss Alps, an influence of her father’s, were relished from beginning to end. Annual summer road trips to coastal Croatia, a connection to Marijan’s family, were planned for months in advance. As talented with languages as she was with scientific pursuits, Gioietta added Croatian as another language mastered, surprising and embarrassing many in her husband’s homeland as the Chinese girl who spoke fluent Croatian.

In the late 1960’s, on the tail of her father’s entanglement in diplomatic conflict between China, Taiwan, and Europe, Gioietta’s long term future in the UK was called into question by association. Her position at a National Laboratory was unfairly taken away, and citizenship applications were held up. It was a difficult period, but as always Gioietta’s tenacity and resolve found a way through. In the mid-1970s, without the stability of the British passports they were still seeking, the couple decided to move their family to the US. They had been offered work at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in New Jersey.

Unknowing that this third continent would become home for the rest of her life but eager for the new adventure, 44-year-old Gioietta boarded the plane at London’s Gatwick airport and stepped off, this time on the same day, at New York’s JFK airport in June of 1977. She never quite traded her intellectual British accent for an American one. At this point, being of another place was always going to be part of who she was. She worked at Princeton for 12 years. This was followed by a short stint, Gioietta’s first position outside the field of research physics though her brilliance in computer programming was nothing new, developing software and patenting technologies related to medical imaging.

Gioietta and her family settled easily and happily in New Jersey, where life became more focused on domestic pleasures and less cosmopolitan by nature. Ironically, confirmation of the British passports came shortly after their arrival to the US. Summer road trips to Continental Europe were traded in for road trips across the American Continent. A white 1969 Austin 1800 sedan with British plates, towing a boat onto the ferry from England to Holland, was traded for a blue and white 1973 Volkswagen van with “Garden State” plates that explored the National Parks of the Rocky Mountain west.

Following retirement, and with their two sons through college, Gioietta and her husband moved to California where they built a home close to Yosemite Valley whose natural beauty they loved. In their older age they moved back to the east coast, settling close by their older son outside Philadelphia. In her retirement, Gioietta’s lifelong focus on goals and academic achievement drove her to author many independent academic papers, ranging in topics from energy to climate change and published in academic journals.

After years of health problems related to losing her kidneys to cancer in her early 70’s, Gioietta entered hospice care in mid-June 2023. She was happy to be at home with family, and later that same week passed away gracefully in her sleep following an evening of laughter and ice cream. Her husband of 64 years, Marijan, was as always at her side.

Andrew was born in Stirling, Scotland in 1954 with his early years in Kilsyth before the family moved to Birmingham. He attended Cotton College in Alton, Staffordshire and went on to study Medicine at the University of Birmingham, graduating in 1977.

He was a keen rugby player and supporter. Andrew served in the Territorial Army 202 including travels to Kenya and Germany as a Medical Officer. He married Yvonne, a nurse in the TA and settled in Warwick having two boys, both of whom have continued the family tradition in medicine.

Following his partnership at the Croft Medical Centre, Andrew co-founded Warwick Gates Family Health Centre in 2000. He had an active role in the medical community, regularly being a port of call for professionals in difficulties and undertaking the positions of LMC Secretary and Chairperson.

Andrew retired in October 2015 and moved to the south coast. With strong ties in the Midlands, he regularly returned to visit.

He was a compassionate and caring man, both at work and home. All that knew him will remember his unique sense of humour and joy for storytelling, with his personality often filling the room. He had a keen and playful wit, and was equally at home entertaining as he was when needing a more measured touch. His legacy is that of intellect, laughter and joy.

Andrew will be greatly missed by his wife Yvonne and two sons, James and Stuart.

We wish to announce with sadness, the passing of Professor Kopalapillai (Kopan) Mahadeva on 14 January 2023 at Charing Cross Hospital in London.

Professor Mahadeva started his long association with the University of Birmingham in 1961 on a full-time MSc Course in Engineering Production and Management, including an ergonomics project. In 1962 he carried out a Research Project to obtain his PhD in Engineering Production (Operational Research) at the University.

He was also in 1965 a lecturer and Acting Supervisor of the MSc in Work Design & Ergonomics Course. He went on to be an industrial and management consultant to small and medium scale Midlands’ industries.

After returning to Sri Lanka for 12 years, during which time he founded MTTE Organisation, he returned to Birmingham in 1978 as a full-time Honorary Research Fellow at the Department of Engineering Production at the University and took on the leadership of the Hampshire Research for the NHS and the University.

Following that, he was a Professor for Production Engineering and Management in the University of West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago between 1980 and 1984.

After returning to the UK he was a Visiting Professor in Advanced Manufacturing Technology at  Birmingham City University (formerly Birmingham Polytechnic) for nine years.

He then pursued his interests as a poet, author and publisher of English and Tamil poetry and Tamil literature books, and even a little bit of acting.

Studying medicine at Birmingham University (1951-56) set my father, Christopher John Garrett, on course for a career that included 35 years in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) and a further decade as a palliative care consultant.

As an undergraduate at Birmingham he also met the love of his life, Gwen, née Goodson. They met on Chris' 21st birthday, New Year's Day 1955, on the maternity ward at nearby Dudley Road Hospital (now Birmingham City). Chris was studying obstetrics and gynaecology, while Gwen was already working there as a midwife.

In June 1956, just one week after Chris' graduation, he and Gwen were married at Kings Norton parish church, Birmingham. Within ten months they were parents, the apparent inability of a doctor and midwife to wait to conceive a child until after Chris had found permanent employment prompting much merriment in both families!

In July 1957, already father to a two-month-old baby, Chris was called up to do national service. Gwen had given up work to look after their son and, as a national serviceman under the age of 25, he would not be entitled to family allowance.

There was little question, therefore, that he would refuse the Army's offer of a short-service commission. He spent the three years in Scotland, first as medical officer to the Joint Services School for Linguists, Crail, then running Edinburgh's Army medical reception station.

The experience led, perhaps with equal inevitability, to a long-service commission. Had Chris gone to work in the NHS in 1960 his salary would have fallen from £1,700 per annum as an acting Major to £670. By then, he and Gwen had another child, while the Army also offered a £1,500 signing-on fee, which they spent on their first car.

Chris' first posting as a regular was to the Royal Army Medical College, Millbank. This stint included a 12-month secondment to the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford, where he worked alongside Dr Alec Cooke and wrote a number of papers, notably on the treatment of diabetes.

Before his first overseas posting, to Malaysia in 1963, Chris obtained the diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene from the University of London. Later, as the Army's Professor of Military Medicine, he would organise bi-annual courses on the subject.

It pained Chris, who was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in 1980, that his last task in the Army was to oversee the closure of British military hospitals in Germany. He had served twice at one of them, Munster (1966-72 and 1978-83), the second time as commanding officer as well as consultant physician.

Other postings included Woolwich, Colchester, Dhekelia (Cyprus), Kuala Lumpur and Malacca (Malaysia). Chris eventually retired from the RAMC with the rank of brigadier, having spent his last four years as Deputy Commander (Medical), British Army of the Rhine, based at Rheindalen.

Ever inquisitive about medicine, he made a new start as consultant physician to the Pilgrims Hospices in Kent. He undertook the role for a further decade, learning about palliative care and opening two new units.

His final - and toughest - job was to look after Gwen, following her diagnosis with Alzheimer's. She died in 2016, six months before their 60th wedding anniversary.

Chris was born in Birmingham, the grandson of a doctor who had practised in New South Wales before returning from Australia to Britain. His father, John Grafton Garrett, known as Jack, was a lecturer in mine surveying at Birmingham University from 1921 until 1946.

Jack was secretary of the Birmingham branch of the Association of University Teachers (AUT) from 1931 onwards and represented non-professorial staff on the university's court of governors from 1934 and on the senate from 1943.

The family lived close to the University, in Langleys Road, Selly Oak. However, Jack's premature death from leukaemia forced his widow, Ida, to return to work as a teacher.

She was working in Wiltshire when Chris left Bromsgrove School in 1951, followed by the congratulations of his headteacher, David Walters. He stated in Chris' final school report that "He has done well here and developed splendidly. He is a good Bromsgrovian who will enhance our reputation at Birmingham University."

Chris leaves three children, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He and Gwen are buried in Winscombe, Somerset.

James Garrett

Natalie was born near Epsom, Surrey and grew up in the surrounding area, before returning to live with her partner close by after graduating from Birmingham. She excelled at school, attaining 11 GCSEs and 4 A levels, as well being an active member of the netball team and the student government. She was successful at securing a place at the University of Birmingham, where she studied for a BA in Geography from 2012-2015. Following graduation, Natalie secured a place on the TEACH FIRST training programme where she completed her PGCE, becoming a much-valued secondary school maths teacher in Surrey.

In September 2018, Natalie was diagnosed with melanoma and for four years underwent treatment at the Royal Marsden until sadly passing away in November 2022. Throughout her treatment Natalie remained positive, continuing to work and make the most of life, including raising money for charities close to her heart and advocate for the importance of melanoma prevention. She continued to support her students at school, and the impact she has had on many of their lives will live on.

Natalie is sorely missed by her family, partner and many friends from both Surrey and Birmingham – her kindness, generosity and smile will never be forgotten. In 28 years Natalie impacted so many lives through her work and personal life that her memory will live on and she will never be forgotten.

If you would like to donate in memory of Natalie, her Much Loved page is raising money for Melanoma UK as well as the 28 walkers undertaking the Marsden March in May, a feat Natalie herself completed in May 2022 whilst undergoing treatment.

I am sad to tell you that my husband Dr. David Hutson died on 28th September 2022 at Treliske Hospital, Truro, Cornwall. He was 87 years old.

Bridget Hutson

Harriet was the centre of our family, always organising our next adventure while simultaneously looking after her UEA students, researching and writing papers and finally realising her dream of writing children's books to bring the micro world to the attention of kids of all ages. She was incredible and has left a big hole in our lives as well as her friends and colleagues in UEA, Birmingham and beyond. Harriet loved her time in Birmingham and kept up with friends from there right to the end.

In her last year she set up her own publishing company, Paramecium Press, and published two children's books, one of which was first conceived, and initially developed, while she was working on her PhD in Biology at Birmingham. Its called Aggi and the Mystic Boots. Harriet's passion for science communication is still ongoing as another book is nearing completion and a game to explain protists to little children is nearing completion too.

There have been several obituaries published for Harriet.

Dr Ian Senior

It is with extreme sadness that we announce the passing of our family's beloved patriarch, Dr. Waleed Jazrawi. Waleed was an energetic, adventurous, spirited, generous, and genuinely sentimental person, who loved life to its core. Waleed treasured his family and friends and there was nothing he wouldn't do for the people he cared about. Waleed's generosity and hospitality touched the lives of so many and he will be dearly missed by his family and his friends, both in Calgary and around the world.

Waleed was born on September 27, 1938, to his parents Alice (neé Mazzucchi) and Wadie Al-Jazrawy in Baghdad, Iraq. Waleed loved his homeland of Iraq and reminisced often about his childhood in Mosul, which he shared with his younger brother Khalid and his younger sister Helen. Waleed was also deeply influenced and mentored by his uncle Munir Al-Jazrawy, who he esteemed throughout his life. Waleed left Iraq when he was 17 years old to attend Wrexham's Glyndwr University for a year to complete his A-levels. Waleed was then accepted to his beloved alma mater, the University of Birmingham, where he completed his Bachelor of Science with Honours, and then went straight on to a PhD programme in chemical engineering. Waleed and his wife, Maggie, would return annually for the University Alumni Reunion and Waleed maintained his relationships with his colleagues for 50 years.

Waleed's time spent in Birmingham were some of his most cherished years, where he made many lifelong friends, and of course, where he met the love of his life, Margaret Hadley. Waleed met Maggie when she was 15 (almost 16) years old, and they dated for six years. Waleed would pick Maggie up on his motorbike (despite her beehive hair-do and 1960s style skirt), and they would enjoy music, dancing, and trips to local areas. Waleed and Maggie eventually traveled the world together, faced life's challenges together, and Maggie was his greatest supporter until the very end, advocating for what she knew he loved and believed in.

After graduating with his PhD in Petroleum Engineering, Waleed and Maggie were married on April 19, 1965, and officially started their life together. After considering a number of opportunities, Waleed and Maggie decided to immigrate to Canada after Waleed accepted a position with Imperial Oil, kick-starting a 53-year career in the petroleum industry. Waleed and Maggie eventually settled in Calgary, Alberta, with Waleed working for Esso for over 25 years. Waleed eventually worked for a number of different oil companies, including CanOxy, where he served as President for their Yemeni operation. Eventually, Waleed started his own consulting company, and served as a board member for companies such as Japex and helped to oversee their Canadian subsidiary, Jacos. Waleed loved what he did for a living. He loved all the opportunities his career afforded him, including travel to nearly every continent and work on new and exciting projects.

Waleed was the beloved father of three daughters: Nadia Maria (born in 1967), Muna Christine (born in 1969), and Sarah Elizabeth (born in 1975). Waleed always set the highest expectations for his daughters and always told them that nothing could hold them back from what they wanted to achieve. He paid into scholarship programmes from the time they were born so they would eventually attend university, which they did, graduating with bachelor's and master's degrees. Waleed taught his daughters how to ski and waterski, how to drive and parallel park, how to mow the lawn, how to play pool and ping-pong. Most importantly, Waleed was always there for his daughters to give important and meaningful advice, and he supported them in every way he could. Waleed was truly a model of what a father should be.

Waleed worked until his late 70s, as long as he could, until he was diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia, which affected his ability to speak. In his retirement, Waleed enjoyed his life no matter where he was, whether it was in his Calgary home, his home in Mesa, Arizona, or in his cherished home in Timber Ridge, Invermere. Waleed enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, Adam, and Layla Ainsley, taking them skiing, on motorbike rides, or sharing his favorite musicals with them. He loved to be surrounded by friends and family, he loved listening to music (everything from Ella Fitzgerald, to the Gypsy Kings, to Pavarotti) and watching his favorite movies (Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago, and of course, Shane). Waleed was eventually diagnosed with Corticobasal Syndrome, and it gradually took away all his mobility, however, he would laugh and interact as much as he could, and he was strong and determined to the very end.

Waleed was predeceased by his mother Alice; his father Wadie; his mother-in-law Irene; his father-in-law Ronald; his Amo Munir; and his sister Helen. He is survived by his loving wife Maggie; his brother Khalid; his daughter Nadia (married to Anthony Verna); his daughter Muna (married to George Apostolakos); his daughter Sarah (married to Adrian Martinez); his grandson Adam Ainsley; and his granddaughter Layla Ainsley.

Photos, memories, and condolences may be shared with Waleed's family through www.evanjstrong.com. An online book of condolences is available online until 16 February 2023.

Jane Mary Robinson, writer and retired welfare-rights advocate and charity manager, died on 12 January 2022 at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, having suffered from a rare and aggressive brain lymphoma. Before she died, she was able to see her close family – husband Tony Marchese, sons Richard and Daniel, daughter-in-law Emma, and baby grandson, Benjamin – and was cared for well by the excellent NHS staff.

Born in London, Jane grew up in Egham in Surrey, raised by her parents Lawrence and Stella. Later, she studied Economic and Social History at the University of Birmingham (1970-1973).

She subsequently worked in Birmingham and London, meeting Tony through work in 1974. She was active in left-wing politics and campaigns throughout the 1970s and 1980s. Her sons Richard and Daniel were born in Lewisham, south east London in 1986 and 1989 respectively.

Jane and her family moved to Plymouth in 1993 where she set-up and managed the Welfare Rights Support Unit and, later, the Plymouth branch of charity Refugee Action.

Jane chose to pursue her lifelong interest in writing later in life, first taking an MA in Creative Writing at the University of Plymouth, and then writing two history books. These were Tracing your Boer War Ancestors: Soldiers of a Forgotten War and Seeking Sanctuary: A history of refugees in Britain, both published by Pen and Sword Books.

In 2015, Jane and Tony moved to Tavistock, where she continued to write and share creative writing in her local group, ‘Tavy Tales’. She was also active in campaigning in the local branch of the Labour Party.

A dedicated advocate for marginalised people, a loving partner, mother and grandmother, and close friend to many locally and further afield, Jane will be deeply missed by those who knew her.

Donations in Jane's memory can be made to the following charities: Amnesty International, Safe Passage and Lymphoma Action.

John Rick Turner, 64, fondly known as Rod or Rick, passed away at his home in Panama City Beach, Florida, on Saturday, October 30, 2021.

He was born in Stourbridge, England (UK) on July 12, 1957 to Margaret Astbury Turner and the late Joseph Raymond Turner. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his uncle Mike and aunt Janet Astbury and his mother-in-law Kathleen Harrison Thompson.

Rick is survived by his beloved wife Karen Harrison Turner and his mother Margaret Astbury Turner and many cousins in the UK with whom he kept in regular contact, his brother-in-law Roger Harrison and wife Dianna and their son Brandon and many friends and colleagues. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

He enjoyed several generations of pampered cats which added immense joy and inspiration to his life.

Rick graduated with a BSc (Honours) in Psychology in 1979 from University of Sheffield (UK), earned a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) from Sheffield Hallam University (UK) in 1980, obtained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from University of Birmingham (UK) in 1984 based on his dissertation entitled “Heart Rate Responses to Psychological Stress”. In 2016, he was awarded the higher doctoral degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) in Cardiovascular Pharmaceutical Medicine from University of Sheffield (UK) based on his application dossier detailing his scholarly activities from 1985-2015.

Rick held an academic position at University of Birmingham (UK) - postdoctoral Fellowship-Psychology. Inspired by academic opportunities in the US, he emigrated in 1987 to hold positions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as postdoctoral Fellowship & Research Assistant Professor in Psychiatry, University of California, Berkley as Research Scholar, School of Public Health, University of Tennessee, Memphis as Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Preventative Medicine and Medical College of Georgia as Associate Professor of Pediatrics until 1996. In 2005 he returned to academia at Campbell University (NC) as Associate Professor of Clinical Research, Drug Safety Scholar, and Chairman, Department of Clinical Research until 2009 and held the position of Adjunct Professor of Pharmacy Practice at Campbell University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences since 2015.

He was employed at GlaxoSmithKline from 2003-2005 as a Clinical Submission Scientist, at Quintiles (now IQVIA) from 2009-2018 as a Senior Scientific Director, Translational Cardiovascular Safety, Scientific Director, Clinical Communications (Corporate Communications division) and Chief Scientific Advisor, Cardiac Safety Services and at DRT Strategies Inc. from 2018-2020 as an Expert Consultant/Federal Contractor assigned to the FDA. Rick was President of his Turner Consulting & Communications company since 1991 in which he wrote and edited scientific/medical publications. Most recently he started working with Chenega Corporation as a Federal Contractor assigned to the FDA.

J. Rick Turner, PhD, DSc was an experimental research scientist, clinical trialist, author, editor, educator, and communicator. He spent the first part of his professional career in the field of cardiovascular behavioral medicine, detailing the individual differences apparent in cardiovascular responses to behavioral and psychological stressors, including genetic influences upon them. He received two international awards for his research and was coeditor of the 2013 Springer volume Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine, the definitive work in this area at that time. Over many years he enjoyed collaborating on various Cardiac Safety Research Consortium projects aimed at improving global patient safety and was a former Editor-in-Chief of the DIA’s peer-reviewed Drug Information Journal. His vast experience spanned twenty years in academia, eleven years in the pharmaceutical industry, and over thirty years of scientific/medical writing and publications.

He was the author and coauthor of over 150 publications in peer-reviewed journals, as well as articles in professional journals and author, coauthor and editor of over 15 books.

Awards and honours include the British Medical Research Council Doctoral Scholarship (1981-1984), Distinguished Scientific Award for an Early Career Contribution to Psychophysiology from the Society for Psychophysiological Research (1988), Early Career Award for Contributions to Psychosomatic Medicine from the American Psychosomatic Society (1993) and conferred the Honor of Fellow by the Society of Behavioral Medicine (1999), American Society of Hypertension (2016), now American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology (2016), European Society of Cardiology (2017) and American College of Clinical Pharmacology (2017).

A Celebration of Life Memorial service will be scheduled in the US and UK at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, British Heart Foundation or online.

Condolences may also be left online.

Rick Allen joined the University in 1973, studying Chemical Engineering. His character was one of hard work and determination which he applied to everything that caught his interest. He immediately joined 'The Stoats’, the University of Birmingham Mountaineering Club and quickly became a competent rock climber and mountaineer; he was often seen practicing climbing on the Bournebrook wall, overlooking the playing fields towards the Bristol Road. Indeed, those at the University in the 70s may remember Rick’s ascent of Old Joe one carnival season (with thanks to the University for permitting and supporting the climb).

Upon graduating in 1976 Rick started work for Blackbird Starling, boilermakers in Glasgow; I speculate that this was at least in part to get closer to the Scottish mountains, where he showed a natural ability for snow and ice climbing. In the 1980s, Rick took a job in Saudi Arabia installing boilers at an oil refinery, but his thoughts were never far away from the mountains and he was known to practice skiing on the sand dunes. Whilst in Saudi Arabia he found time to visit and climb the world-famous Diamond Couloir on Mount Kenya, a ribbon of ice that has now virtually disappeared due to global warming.

On returning to Aberdeen for a job in the oil industry, Rick found his new employer remarkably supportive to his passion for climbing expeditions and trips to the Himalayas became his norm. In 1982 an avalanche caused the team to retreat from Kirti Stambh (6271m); undeterred Rick went on to complete the first ascent solo. It was a hallmark of his approach to life that, when others were giving up, he would “just have another look”, an approach that resulted in many successful achievements. Rick reasoned that, if the snow had already avalanched it was unlikely to do it again soon; perhaps that was the start of his career focus on Health and Safety? Rick married Alison, another mountaineer, who enthusiastically encouraged his activities and sometimes accompanied him; sadly Alison died from cancer in 1999. Rick’s work in the oil industry then took him to Kazakhstan with Texaco; that was where the oil was at and conveniently close to the Pamir mountains and not far from the other Himalayan ranges.

On 26 May 2000 Rick summited Everest. He was already an accomplished Himalayan mountaineer, with a number of ascents and new routes to his credit, Ganesh II, Pumori, Dhaulagiri, which became his first 8000m peak. He moved to Tadjikistan in 2006, still working in the oil industry between mountains. It was here that he made the first British ascent of Pik Karl Marx and the first ascent of the North Ridge of Pik Ovalraya. He also met and married Zuhra. Rick’s last career move was to Western Australia as Head of Health and Safety for Chevron on the Gorgon natural gas project; sadly Zuhra was homesick for Tadjikistan and their marriage did not endure.

Undoubtedly Rick’s finest mountaineering achievement was the first complete traverse of the Mazeno Ridge to the summit of Nanga Parbat, with fellow mountaineer Sandy Allan. Whilst Rick avoided the limelight, this ascent caught the attention of the mountaineering world and in Rick’s own words: “The mountaineering world has had many nice things to say about the ascent, usually accompanied by an expression of astonishment at the age of the protagonists.” Both Rick and Sandy were awarded the Piolet d'Or (the Golden Ice-axe) the highest honour in mountaineering.

Rick's last expedition was to K2, exploring a new route. Before departure he had said to me that he thought he had done his last trip, but perhaps just have another look. The avalanche came at night and the Pakistani guides, his friends, rushed from another camp and found him. Rick was regarded as a sort of legendary grandfather in those parts and was buried the following morning in the shadow of K2 with prayers in different languages and religions.

I consider a blue plaque by the steps of the Bournebrook wall, where he practised climbing, would be a most fitting tribute to someone who was undoubtedly one of the finest and highest achieving mountaineers.

Mike Grain (BSc Physics 1974; MSc Reactor Physics 1975)

Citizen of the World, Life-long Knowledge-seeker and generous heart

Beloved husband, father, son, brother, friend
Born in Plymouth, UK and Citizen of the World
Life-long Knowledge-seeker and generous heart
~Sorely missed

Denis was proud to be a Univ of Birmingham alumni, and frequently shared fond memories of his time & education at UOB.

Michele Pomroy

A tribute from John Whellock (BSc Chemical Engineering, 1969; PhD Chemical Engineering, 1972)

In a number of instances, I am aware how the pandemic removed our opportunity to honour and celebrate the lives of those who passed at that time. I regret that I missed Dr Botterill’s memorial service on 4 March 2021, which was held on Zoom. I enjoyed my days in Chemical Engineering at Birmingham University where Dr Botterill was a member of staff and especially doing my doctorate there. While it is just over two years since his passing, I was moved to write a remembrance of his impact on my life.

John was my supervisor during some very happy years doing my PhD in Chemical Engineering from 1969 to 1972. I owe him a great debt of gratitude for all he did for me and my career. I used to exchange Christmas cards with him and then in the last couple of years I did not receive any, so I assumed he was not doing so well. I learned from his niece that he had Alzheimer’s disease in the last year of his life. Fortunately, I enjoyed a very good chat with him by phone from the States in March 2020. Perhaps I was even one of his last students to do so. I wanted to thank him and tell him again how much he had done for me in those formative years—culminating in going to Cambridge to see Dr Davidson for my final examination of my PhD.

I learned a lot under his guidance and tutelage and he was always kind and inspiring when I was down, which happened occasionally when things did not go the way I had hoped. During my first year of my PhD, the British Coal Utilization Research Association in Leatherhead (which I was working with in combined cycle fluid bed power production) went bankrupt and I was devastated. Sharing a clandestine glass of sherry in his office I said to him, “Dr John what am I to do now?” He said in very characteristic words: “John, God will provide,” and within a few weeks I had a venue to work in the department and some funding and equipment and all went well from that point on!

As a result of his early study of physics he had a slightly different take on all things chemical engineering. He had a great entourage of authors and professors around the world – "alumni" of the Fluidization World and he would emphasise: "you have to appreciate what’s going on at the surface." He was a real pioneer in the study of the fundamentals of heat transfer at surfaces in fluid beds and I have his text book on my shelf right here. He was definitely a leading light in the field. I don’t work in quite the same field now but along the way all the principles and approaches you learn doing a PhD are invaluable and without that fundamental practice I don’t think I would be where I am today.

My wife, Ginger, really appreciated meeting Dr John on one of our trips to the UK and joins me in the spirit of this remembrance of him. He was a very fine and honourable man and is deeply missed by us and all who knew him.

A tribute from Dennis Bessant (BSc Chemical Engineering, 1970; PhD Chemical Engineering, 1973)

John Botterill was a true gentleman with a big heart. You knew he was on his way into the pilot plant bays with the clip clop of his leather brogues and his breezy gait! I was sad to hear belatedly of his passing.

Scholarly, visionary, ready to challenge and always driving forward. In the eras before social media, an academic who was truly connected to, and highly respected by his fellow Fluidization researchers in the UK ( Harrison, Davidson et Al) and around the world. Affectionately known to me as JSMB….over a six-year period!

JSMB was my personal Tutor for the three years as a chemical engineering undergraduate (1967-70), and then my Supervisor as a postgraduate PhD student (1970-73) studying the flow of fluidised solids sponsored by the SRC, as a precursor to what became major innovations in energy storage and more efficient combustion technology. I chose research with JSMB rather than the Cambridge option because of his unique abilities to coach and challenge.

He saw me overcome personal challenges to secure a first class degree and never lost faith. I still have much memorabilia such as my experimental unit operations record books.

His favourite phrases always stay with me: "Life is unfair and God will provide!"

Time moves on but in those days, mathematical modelling using a computer was pioneering. The computer filled a massive room in the Main Building; we used to have to punch decks of Fortran computer instruction cards and await the results with trepidation. Dennis Morgan was our very unique and amiable Technician and Fred was usually somewhere around keeping the equipment bays in good order.

Earlier postgrad students of JSMB I recall were M Desai and M van der Kalk. It would be so nice if they could add their memories wherever they are now. We were all based in the very old but warm wooden shed at the back of the pilot plant bays. Always alert when we heard the footsteps of Dr John on his way to see us!

Fond memories of my six year collaboration with JSMB will always be with me.

The eldest of four children, Ray Huggins was born in 1938 and grew up in Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland. After attending local schools, he graduated with a 1st class degree in Physics at the University of Birmingham. He then went on to Oxford University to study Physics at Oriel College, completing his DPhil in 1964.

Over the course of his professional career, Ray worked for a number of academic and commercial organisations, including the University of Illinois and Bell Labs in the USA, the Royal Marsden Hospital in Surrey, England, Xerox and finally Boeing in Seattle, Washington, from which he retired in 2002. He conducted research over the years and was awarded many patents for innovative work.

One summer while at Oriel, he participated in a Scottish dancing school at St Andrews, in Scotland, where he met Eileen, his future wife. They were married in 1963, and soon after emigrated to the United States.

Ray had diverse interests outside of work. He taught himself to play the bagpipes and was a member of a number of bagpipe marching bands through the years. A talented craftsman who loved work with his hands, he spent countless hours building devices in his workshop or maintaining his old Volvo in the garage. He built a working scale steam tank engine. A lifelong swimmer, he swam for exercise and relaxation until late in life.

His passion was for the sea. He hand-built a canoe as a teenager growing up on the North Sea coast. He fell in love with sailing, often serving as a crew member with friends on trips across the Channel to France. Later in life, Ray and Eileen undertook numerous lengthy cruises. These started in the islands on the Puget Sound in the state of Washington; the trips later expanded to a circumnavigation of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Their trip of a lifetime lasted over four years, sailing down the west coast of North America, through the Panama Canal, around the Caribbean islands, up the east coast of the United States through the Intercoastal Waterway, finishing on Lake Ontario.

Ray gave back to the boating community in the greater Seattle area. He was an award-winning instructor in all facets of boating, from basic seamanship to celestial navigation.

Ray and Eileen have two sons and a daughter, six grandchildren and three great-granddaughters. His family remember him as a kind, giving and cerebral man. Ray loved playing games with the family and was known to be a tough opponent in bridge or hearts.

Ray passed away in February 2021 after confronting the challenges of Parkinson's disease. His family and friends will remember him fondly and cherish his memory.

Professor Grenville Yuill, who achieved a Masters in Engineering as an Athlone fellow in 1960, died Jan. 17 2021 at his home in New Mexico. He was 83. His granddaughter, Eleanor Yuill is currently a third year student in Education and Sociology at Birmingham.

Professor Yuill was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, in 1937. He came to Birmingham and London School of Economics as part of his scholarship, and became a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Manitoba when he was 24 years old. In 1974, he started a company that focused on energy efficiency, solar energy and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Yuill was also a past chairman of the Solar Energy Society of Canada. Returning to academia in 1991 in Pennsylvania, he later became the first director of The Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction and a professor of architectural engineering. He retired from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to live in Albuquerque in 2011.

Richard qualified in medicine in 1955 and did his National Service as a commissioned officer in the RAF at Akrotiri in Cyprus for three years. As a student he joined the Territorial Army and learned to parachute. With this experience he became medical leader of the parachute rescue team in Akrotiri where Greeks and Turks were fighting. Safety precautions had to be taken seriously by RAF personnel.

After his discharge from the RAF, Richard became orthopaedic registrar at The Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton, where he had completed his house jobs. I was a resident at the hospital being taught anaesthetics by Dr Betty Scott, a Birmingham graduate.

We married in 1960, moved into a house in Moseley and Richard joined the practice of Dr Dennis Mason. Many patients were from India and Pakistan. Language barriers had to be overcome, sometimes by children who were learning English at school.

In July 1966, The Royal Flying Doctor Service advertised a need for a doctor in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. Richard was accepted. By then we had three children.

On September 19^th, 1966, we arrived at Perth airport. The RFDS recommended that we buy a car in Perth and drive to Kalgoorlie. We were excited to see signs by the roadside warning drivers to beware of kangaroos and hoped to see one, luckily we didn’t, for them and for us, car versus kangaroo doesn’t end well.

Richard enjoyed his work, flying long and short journeys to take regular clinics. He also flew pregnant women from the outback to stay in Kalgoorlie two or three weeks before their due date to be safe. On one occasion the baby was born in the plane, Richard being assisted by his unflappable pilot.

After three years we moved to Perth and Richard became a General Practitioner at St Andrew’s Medical Group for many years. In 1981 he worked for the Red Cross in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, for three months. Most of the cases were warfare-related; bullet wounds and injuries from land mines. Richard set up an orthopaedic ward where serious fractures could be looked after. A Cambodian anaesthetist and I gave anaesthetics.

After retiring officially, Richard found it hard not to look into St Andrews from time to time. He died on December 30^th, 2020.

Barbara Reynolds

Pat Ake (as she was then) came from York to study Social Sciences at Birmingham in 1955 and enjoyed a wonderful three years there, making lasting friendships and becoming an active member of the Methodist Society. After graduating, she gained a post as a Child Care Officer in Birmingham, and soon after met her husband-to-be, John, at an Inter-Varsity Valentine's Day Ball; they celebrated a happy Diamond Wedding Anniversary shortly before her death.

Beginning married life in Sutton Coldfield, a son and daughter came along, before a move down to Wiltshire where they all remained. Pat concentrated on being a full-time mum, as well as giving many years of active voluntary service in the community, organising the local Meals on Wheels service, working as a Social Services Team Attached Volunteer, working in a local hospice charity shop, serving on the management committee of the local Abbeyfield home, giving much time to church pastoral work and running the Sunday School, and proof-reading the local village magazine.

She also indulged a love of music, singing in several choirs and playing the piano in church. She remained a committed Methodist throughout her life and contributed greatly to the life of her church and community over the years. Pat enjoyed a happy family life, taking an active interest in the progress of her children and grandchildren, as well as travelling and enjoying holidays at home and abroad. Pat always remembered her time at the University of Birmingham very fondly, being still in touch with her Winterbourne House roommates, with whom she met up annually until a few years ago. With a son who graduated from Birmingham in 1987 and a granddaughter currently in her second year at Birmingham, part of her, in a sense, is still there.

Pat Presland is loved and missed by those she left behind.

David’s impressive mane of red hair, coupled with his preferred attire of rock concert t-shirts, quickly enabled him to form a circle of like-minded friends, centred around interactions in the Lake/Wyddrington dining room.

Much of David’s down time was spent in the Guild of Students, where he enjoyed many (half) hours playing snooker in the basement or at the “Fathom” pinball machine; a popular way of wasting 10p. Lunch was usually taken upstairs in the cheekily branded 'McDocherty's' canteen ("A Guild Grill please Lou!"), whiling away the preparation time on the latest arcade game (Track & Field, Pole Position, and Amidar were especially popular).

David took advantage of Birmingham's central location to visit many of the local football grounds, operating within a wide radius, which included midweek trips as far afield as Wrexham and Swindon.

Regular trips were made to the city centre to browse the record shops for the latest (and classic) rock albums. After visiting the giants of the day (HMV, Virgin Megastore), if David was feeling particularly brave, he would also pay a visit to Cyclops in the Piccadilly Arcade, a store run by one of the grumpiest men in retail (They did sell huge promotional posters for the price of a couple of games of pinball though!).

He attended many rock concerts at the local venues, notably Rush, Marillion, Ozzy Osbourne, Gillan and The Enid.

David was a co-founder of the Birmingham University Rush Appreciation Society, which brought together many fans of rock music, all of whom had to pass the intimidating three-part "Are you a Rush fan?" entrance examination, which went something like this:
1.    An easy one to start… Are you fan of the music of Rush?
2.    How do you pronounce the surname of Rush’s drummer, Neil Peart? [Three possible answers were offered; any answer was acceptable]
3.    Do you know the meaning of integrity? [The preferred (and often encouraged) response was "No", to be answered with a chorus of "YOU'RE IN!"]

This went on to become one of the least active of all university societies.

In his second and third years, David lodged in Selly Park, and was delighted to discover that he was living in the same street as his favourite lecturer, Dr Bourne; there was extra pleasure gained from the fact that David's home-town was Bourne, Lincolnshire.

After graduating, David continued to revisit the campus at regular intervals and, like so many of us, was disappointed to have had his 35th anniversary reunion cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. He always spoke fondly of his time at the University, sharing how he "welled up" every time he saw Old Joe when re-visiting – which he proudly showed off to his two daughters.

David is fondly remembered for his cheeky humour and as a loyal friend.

(Kindly written by Ian Partlett, whom David met in his first year at the University of Birmingham in 1982 and became a life-long friend)

Alan was born in March 1931 in Handsworth, Birmingham to Marjorie and Fred Fell, his mum a milliner and his dad the milliners' salesman.

From 1939 Alan stayed with a couple in the village of Aston Cantlow as an evacuee from Birmingham. He welcomed the freedom of living in the village, which instilled in him his love and learning of the countryside, work in the garden and outdoor skills.

In his writing ‘Experiences of an Evacuee from Birmingham’, he wrote of how he loved his time in the class then, as he was entrusted to read stories to the group, so teacher could be with others of such a large class. Alan had a hugely broad vocabulary and expressions which amazed his family in later years.

Aston Cantlow became the village his parents moved to, and became the place throughout his life that he called ‘home’. Being the place and people he loved so well.

(Even on returning to the village so many years later with Rachel, on walking into the church the same organist was playing, on church he shouted down “hello Alan”, Alan shouted up to him “hello Bob”! and on he went playing where he’d left off!

As war went on, Alan was again evacuated, this time with his school Five Ways to Monmouthshire. On the train to Monmouth he met his lifelong friend Martin Lee.
The friendships he made at the University of Birmingham too became the firm friendships which affectionately became known as ‘the crowd’. 

Alan’s love of motoring features in all these old friends’ memories of him. He was proud to be a member of the University Motor Club amongst others.

The MG car in racing green featuring the most.  Racing green remained his favourite colour always. There were many risky rallying throughout Europe with friends.

National Service - the Navy - in the Fifties took Alan on many seafaring voyages to places to Malta, Singapore, and Sri Lanka and he considered himself to be very lucky.

He relished his time there especially as the head chef duties of cooking big breakfasts for 100 hungry sailors.

Alan returned to Birmingham after the Navy to join his parents in the ‘rag trade’ as it was called, managing the Fell family firm, which by then had been named Felleta Fashions (to give it some Italian flair!) .

He met Annie through dear friends Adam and Mo. Annie and Alan were happily married in 1971. His children Rachel and David were born soon after.

In London he began working in social housing in the late Sixties. Annie saw an advert and suggested it as an interim volunteer job. He began painting and decorating run down flats for Notting Hill Housing Trust. Alan ended up managing that same housing estate, to eventually become The General Secretary for the Housing Trust for 25 years.

A pet hate being computers. His name for the computer was ‘the infernal machine’ and he somehow managed never to use it at work, continuing with Dictaphone and pen and paper.

In home life Alan loved to be chef and make the favourites like his paella. His memory for a good meal was astounding. The family always amused at his extraordinary food memories. Exact time and place would be recounted- “on 10 March 1962 I had the best steak with the juiciest tomato and sauce”.

He had a genuine nature of loyalty and love for his family, friends and the greater good and was much loved. As another member of this church wrote: ‘they do not come like Alan these days’!

David studied a combined honours degree in Physics and Chemistry at Sheffield, then moved back home to Birmingham for his MSc in Radiobiology and finally a PhD in Medical Physics. He married Margaret in 1969, when she was a Therapy Radiographer at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.  He was appointed head of Medical Physics at The Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton, later to become New Cross Hospital when the old hospital was demolished. He retired in 2002 as Director of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering although he went back part time for two years as Radiation Safety Advisor which he enjoyed immensely - no staffing problems, no finance, no meetings. As he said, ‘Just being a physicist.’

Alongside his work as a medical physicist, David attained a Certificate in Theology from St John’s College at Nottingham, followed by training in Lay Readership in the Church of England. He served as Reader at St Stephen’s Church, Selly Park for almost thirty eight years until shortly before his death. He said that his funeral service was to be a sad celebration and it was. Sad because he is no longer with us but a celebration in that he is now with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. After retiring from work he took up art, specialising in watercolours. In his spare time he sat as Lay Assessor on three University of Birmingham committees, supported his community as a Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator and led a team which was responsible for the re-ordering of St Stephen’s.  

We are sad to report the recent death of Dame Rachel Waterhouse, consumer champion and passionate Birmingham advocate and historian.

Rachel had an extraordinary life. She was born in 1923, before there was universal suffrage for women and in an age when few women had careers. She went to King Edward’s High School for Girls (KEHS), winning a Foundation Scholarship. After graduating from St Hugh’s College, Oxford, in 1944, Rachel returned to Birmingham, married John Waterhouse in 1947 and completed her PhD at the University of Birmingham in 1950.

While bringing up four children, she wrote centenary histories of several key Birmingham institutions:

• The Birmingham and Midland Institute 1854 – 1954 (1954)
• A Hundred Years of Engineering Craftsmanship – Tangye’s Limited (1957)
• Children in Hospital – a hundred years of child care in Birmingham (1962)
• How Birmingham became a Great City (1976)
• King Edward VI High School for Girls 1883 – 1983 (1983)

Her love of history stayed with her for her whole life.

In the early 1960s she joined the Birmingham Consumers’ Group (BCG), a decision which changed her life completely.  From being secretary of the Birmingham Group in 1964, she became a member of the Consumers’ Association’s Council (publishers of Which? magazine) two years later and in 1982 became Chairman of CA Council, a position she held for eight years.

From the mid-1960s the consumer movement rapidly gained recognition, including within Government. It was here that Rachel’s skills really came to the fore, as she was appointed to almost 20 public bodies as the consumers’ representative. These varied from the Potato Marketing Board to the National Economic Development Council (chaired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer) and from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Inquiry into Social Housing to the Office of the Banking Ombudsman.  She was as comfortable discussing financial securities and investments as the microbiological safety of food; one day she might be visiting a farm, another an offshore oil rig (with the Health and Safety Commission).

Yet despite the almost daily commuting to London she remained firmly grounded in Birmingham. She took on many influential roles within her home city, including being a founder member and first Chairman of Birmingham’s reconstituted Lunar Society (1990-96), Chairman of the Birmingham branch of the Victorian Society (1966-67 & 1972-74), President of the Birmingham and Midland Institute (1992), Provost of Selly Oak Colleges (1997-2000), and a member of University of Birmingham’s Court of Governors (1992-2003). In the 1990s she was appointed a Trustee of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and she was a leading member of the Church of England’s Affirming Catholicism movement.

She was made a CBE in 1980 and a DBE in 1990.

She received an honorary degree – DSocSc – from the University of Birmingham in 1990. She also received honorary degrees from Aston University and Loughborough University. 

Dame Rachel was the first recipient of the Lunar Medal in 2006 – a prestigious award reflecting outstanding contribution to the aims of the Lunar Society and the furtherance of social and economic life in the West Midlands. She died peacefully, following a stroke, at the age of 97, leaving four children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is sorely missed by all who knew her.

My husband, Bill Gothard, was an undergraduate at Birmingham, while living in his hometown of Solihull. After a brief career in banking, Bill came to Reading to work in the Careers Service. He went on to have a decades-long association with Reading University, as a lecturer and then senior lecturer in Careers Guidance and Counselling, and then Head of the Department of Community Studies.

Bill did his PhD at Reading while working full-time. He retired from the university at 65 and continued to work part-time as a careers adviser until in his early 70s.

Bill was 79 when he died as a result of a fall leading to head trauma. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease nine years ago. Bill leaves a wife, three sons and a daughter.

Chris Gothard

Tony, as he was always known, was a Midlander through and through - there have been Barsons living in Loughborough and the surrounding villages since the 1700s. Born in Kingstanding, Birmingham, he grew up in Rugby but spent the rest of his life in the Birmingham area.

It was as a day boy at Rugby School between 1946 and 1951 that Tony developed his interest in the sciences, particularly chemistry, and his love of painting and music, including learning to play the organ. When Renown Pictures Corporation made their film version of Tom Brown’s Schooldays in summer 1950, he assisted in organising the schoolboy and town extras for the crowd scenes shot at the school and at the Denham film studios.

Tony was tempted to take up Renown Pictures offer of a production role in their next film ‘Scrooge’ but decided his real interest was the sciences. So in 1951 he moved to the University of Birmingham, to do a BSc in Chemistry, followed by a PhD on ‘Tracer studies in benzoyl peroxide’, supervised by Dr John Bevington. He was soon heavily involved in student affairs. He joined the Guild Theatre Group and had a variety of back stage roles in GTG’s popular productions of Gilbert and Sullivan operas. He was the Guild of Students Treasurer in 1954/55 and Union Treasurer in 1955/56.

On completing his PhD in 1957 Tony took a post as chemistry master at Bromsgrove School, where he found that as one of the younger members of staff his duties also included supervising school rugby games on cold winter afternoons. Although he enjoyed the teaching he knew that he wanted to continue doing research – in fact he carried out some research in collaboration with the University Chemistry Department while still at Bromsgrove; this included doing laboratory work at the school.

He was thrilled to return to the University as a Senior Research Fellow in Chemistry in 1961 and was appointed to a Lectureship in 1964 and a Senior Lecturer in 1991. Tony’s teaching in the Chemistry Department was always concerned with physical chemistry, mainly kinetics, although in his later years he was asked to teach a course in X-ray crystallography, as part of an initiative to ensure that lecturers did not become jaded by teaching the same material again and again. He also lectured to the interdepartmental Radiobiology MSc course. Tony’s teaching style was thorough, well thought out, and clearly delivered, if not flamboyant.

His research interest, supported by Professors Maurice Stacey and James Robb, was polymer chemistry, for which he frequently used radioactive isotopes, usually carbon-14, to follow the course of the reactions. He published over 70 papers, many of them in cooperation with John Bevington, by then a Professor at Lancaster University.

Tony retained a continuing interest in the teaching of chemistry at school level and the links between schools and universities. He enjoyed giving occasional lectures to groups of schoolchildren, often in the large lecture theatre in the Haworth Building, where he liked to enliven his demonstrations with a ‘big bang’. From 1964 to 1998 he was the University’s representative on the governing body of Lichfield Friary School, and from 1969 to 1998 was involved in the Joint Matriculation Board’s A level Chemistry examinations, including the setting and marking of papers and acting as a Chief Examiner for many years.

Student days in the Union were not forgotten, as he served as the University’s representative on the Guild of Students' Union Services Committee for more than 20 years.

Tony’s contacts within the University were never restricted to the Chemistry Department. He felt that one of the benefits of being at the University was the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas with people from other departments. In fact he made a point of not lunching with Chemistry Department colleagues. This interest in University affairs generally led to his involvement with the Association of University Teachers (AUT), then the trade union for academic staff. Between 1969 and 1981 he was successively treasurer, secretary, and finally president of the local branch.

Tony continued to live in Birmingham following his retirement in 1997, enjoying lunches with former colleagues in Staff House, concerts in Symphony Hall and the Town Hall, and regular holidays in Britain and Continental Europe, particularly twice yearly visits to Switzerland and many Christmases spent in Vienna.

Tony was twice married. Firstly in 1959 to Judy (they had two daughters, Jacki and Sue) and later to Janet. All survive him.

Janet Barson and James Burdon, Retired Reader in Organic Chemistry.

Jean was born in Tipton, and spent her childhood in Nelson, the daughter of John Smith a civil engineer and his wife Elsie a teacher and younger sister to John Gilchrist Smith. She attended Nelson Grammar School and went on to study medicine at Birmingham, graduating in 1952.

It was whilst working at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham that she met her husband, the late Dr Joe Greenan. Three years after their marriage in 1954, Jean contracted polio - whilst pregnant with her 3^rd child - and was severely paralysed from the chest downwards requiring extensive rehabilitation.

In 1961 they moved to Scarborough where they raised their five children and continued their medical careers. She returned to work as a School Medical Officer and then became a Clinical Assistant in Ophthalmology at Scarborough Hospital. Following retirement she served a term as a non-executive director to the Scarborough and NE Healthcare NHS Trust. She had a strong commitment to supporting her local community and was appointed as a Justice of the Peace, serving 25 years as a magistrate. As an Independent candidate representing the Scalby and Newby Ward, she was elected for five consecutive terms as a Scarborough Borough Councillor. She served 18 years of service, including a Mayoral year from 1982. In 1996, she was awarded the title of Honorary Alderman of the Borough of Scarborough. She had a particular interest in town planning and development along with rural conservation and was a founding member and recent president of the Scalby Village Trust.

Her belief in the importance of supporting young people and encouraging opportunities for them moved her to become a governor for Scarborough College, Raincliffe School, St Augustine’s School and St George’s School. She had greatly enjoyed her time as a Girl Guide in her youth, valuing the friendship and life skills it offered, and maintained a keen interest in the Girl Guides. She became Division Commissioner of the Scarborough Girl Guide movement in 1976, and went on to be County Commissioner for North Yorkshire from 1982-87.

In carrying out all her medical and public service roles, she did so with enthusiasm, commitment and dedication to a remarkable degree. Her Christian faith was an inspiration to her throughout her life in the decision making and roles she undertook.

Above all she was a caring and supportive wife and mother; and an incredible role model for her family. Despite her significant physical disabilities and developing post-polio syndrome she continued to embrace life, refusing to allow her life to be defined by them. This determination shone through like a beacon, and is an inspiration to those of us fortunate to have known her. For the last two years of her life she lived at Nightingale Hall in Richmond, North Yorkshire. She died there, very peacefully on 12 March 2020. She is survived by her brother John Gilchrist Smith and her five children Anne, Mary Jo, Sioban, Janet and John.

Denis Stanworth, retired immunochemist who spent his entire academic career at the University of Birmingham, has died aged 91. He was a major international figure in immunology and a pioneer in the study of immunoglobulin structure and function [1]. 

Denis graduated with a degree in chemistry from the University of Birmingham, where he also earned a PhD under the head of the Department of Experimental Pathology (the late Professor John Squire). This seminal work on reagins during the 1950s [2] put him in a key position to participate in the momentous events which culminated in the discovery of IgE [3], the antibody class that mediates allergic reactions.  In his lab in Birmingham, he carried out the functional characterisation of a rare myeloma protein, IgND, that was discovered in 1967 in Uppsala, Sweden, by Johansson and Bennich [4, 5]. He found that IgND could block the Prausnitz-Kustner test for reagin [6] and that this activity was mediated by the Fc fragment [7].  In 1968 the World Health Organisation named IgND and its equivalent, g, described by the Ishizakas in Denver, Colorado [8], the fifth human immunoglobulin class, IgE [9]. In the decades that followed, Denis continued his interest in the molecular pathology of IgE, describing a novel candidate vaccine peptide derived from the Ce4 domain of IgE which might be used in blocking certain allergic reactions [10].

Early in his career, Denis spent a year working in Ed Franklin’s lab in New York, where he raised antisera against paraproteins which were capable for the first time of distinguishing the then known classes of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM and IgA) immunochemically [11]. He often referred fondly to his time there and to the thrill of seeing Kennedy’s run for the presidency and Martin Luther King Jr. preach at a local church.  During the 1970s and 1980s, Denis published extensively on human IgG subclasses (particularly IgG4) and his interests expanded into the biology and functions of immunoglobulin-interacting cells, especially mast cells, macrophages and B-cells. He also developed broad interests and expertise in the role of rheumatoid factors and how these elements contributed to the development of rheumatoid arthritis.  He forged a strong friendship and research collaboration with the late Hungarian immunologist Janos Gergely, with whom he pursued his research interest in Fcg receptors. He often spoke of his visits to Budapest, where he also enjoyed listening to the sound of violin over dinner! 

Denis enjoyed travelling abroad and did so widely, often as a keynote speaker at international conferences. His lab in Birmingham was a magnet for young and seasoned immunologists from all over the world and he would normally have a dozen nationalities represented in his lab at any one time. He was very inclusive and would always bring his distinguished visitors into the lab for a chat with staff and PhD students. He was also a great believer in the social dimension of being part of a research community. Through his numerous friendships he advanced science; forging productive research collaborations across diverse scientific and medical specialties. There was always excitement, energy and a new discovery to hear about and enjoy. Denis had a defining and lasting impact on the careers of many immunologists around the world, including us. We were all PhD students of Denis’s and like many of his postgraduate students (around 80 in total) we owe Denis an immense debt of gratitude for his guidance and advice, for the rich research discipline he instilled in us and for the continuing friendship we shared over several decades.

Following his retirement from the University of Birmingham, Denis set up Peptide Therapeutics Ltd in Cambridge, where he and his team continued their work on his novel anti-allergy peptide vaccine. In the late 1990s, he was awarded a special professorship by the University of Nottingham in recognition of his exceptional and long-standing contribution to the science of immunology; in particular to our understanding of allergies. He was a prolific author and a member of numerous national and international immunology organizations and committees. He was active in the Medical Research Council (London), the World Health Organization (Geneva) and the Royal College of Pathologists (London). Denis spent his retirement years in his beloved Malvern, Worcestershire and was an avid listener to the music of its famous son, the English composer Sir Edward Elgar. Denis will be sorely missed by his family and friends. His wife Barbara passed away in 2013 and he is survived by his two daughters, Deborah and Sarah, and four grandchildren, David and Elizabeth, and Daniel and Francesca.

References 

1. James K, Henney CS, Stanworth DR.  Structural changes occurring in 7Sg-globulins.  Nature 1964; 202: 563 – 566.

2. Stanworth DR.  Studies on the physico-chemical properties of reagin to horse dandruff.  Immunology 1959; 2: 384 – 401.

3. Stanworth DR.  The discovery of IgE.  Allergy 1993; 48: 67 – 71.

4. Johansson SGO. Raised levels of a new immunoglobulin class (IgND) in asthma.  Lancet 1967; ii: 951 – 953.

5. Johansson SGO, Bennich H.  Immunological studies of an atypical (myeloma) immunoglobulin.  Immunology 1967; 13: 381 – 394.

6. Stanworth DR, Humphrey J, Bennich H, Johansson SGO.  Specific inhibition of the Prausnitz-Kustner reaction by an atypical human myeloma protein.  Lancet 1967; ii: 330 – 332.

7. Stanworth DR, Humphrey JH, Bennich H, Johansson SGO.  Inhibition of the Prausnitz-Kustner reaction by proteolytic cleavage fragments of a human myeloma protein of class E.  Lancet 1968; ii: 17 – 18.

8. Ishizaka K, Ishizaka T.  Identification of gE-antibodies as a carrier of reaginic activity.  J Immunol 1967; 99: 1187. 

9. Bennich H, Ishizaka K, Johansson SGO, Rowe DS, Stanworth DR, Terry  WD.  Immunoglobulin E, a new class of human immunoglobulin.  Bull World Health Organ 1968; 38: 151 – 152.

10. Stanworth DR, Jones VM, Lewin IV, Nayyar S.  Allergy treatment with a peptide vaccine.  Lancet 1990; 336: 1279 – 1281.   

11. Franklin EC, Stanworth DR.  Antigenic relationships between immunoglobulins and certain related paraproteins in man.  J Exp Med 1961; 114: 521 – 533.

Authors

Farouk Shakib
Emeritus Professor of Experimental Allergy
University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK

Keith James
Emeritus Professor of Immunology
University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK

Christopher S Henney
Former Professor of Immunology
University of Washington, Seattle WA, USA

David W H Riches
Professor, Pulmonary Sciences & Critical Care Medicine
University of Colorado, Denver CO, USA

My friend Joyce Rimmer, who has died aged 87, was a social worker and probation officer who spent her adult life campaigning for justice.

Joyce was born in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, and grew up nearby in Hillesley, where her parents, Nellie (nee Carter) and Lionel Bennett, were farmers. After attending Katharine Lady Berkeley’s grammar school in Wotton-under-Edge she took a history degree at Bristol University and then studied social work at the London School of Economics.

While there she supported the settlement movement by living in various “settlement houses” – places where social reformers would share accommodation with deprived families – trying to support them.

In 1956 Joyce moved to Birmingham and became a probation officer there. Her overriding aim was to keep women out of prison, as she recounted 60 years later, in a letter published by the Guardian. “I supervised many women offenders on probation,” she wrote. “All cared for their families and did not offend again. Nowadays prison very rarely works. The probation service needs to be given proper recognition again.”

Joyce was naturally academic. In 1963 she became a lecturer in social work at the University of Birmingham. In her spare time, she wrote a history of the Birmingham settlement movement called 'Troubles Shared: Story of a Settlement, 1899-1979', published in 1980.

After retiring from the university in 1990, she got more involved with Cruse Bereavement Care’s Birmingham branch, which she had helped start in the early 1970s. She chaired it from 1991 until 1994 and remained involved for years afterwards. In 1991 she was appointed MBE, and in 2009 was awarded a League of Mercy medal.

Her intense interest in public policy remained with her all her life and she would follow current affairs avidly, with particular attention to stories about prison conditions.

Although serious in nature, she had a ready sense of humour that shone through in her work as an amateur artist. Her paintings featured everything from stormy seas and church interiors to the people in her exercise class.

One of her most recent paintings showed a queue of bedraggled people waiting for a bus; she sent it to transport officials, along with a letter explaining that her local hospital really needed a bus shelter. As a result, the officials agreed to put an electronic noticeboard in the hospital foyer, showing patients when the next buses were due. That way they at least did not have to wait outside.

Joyce met Douglas Rimmer at Birmingham, where he was head of West African studies, and they married in 1970.

Douglas died in 2004. Joyce is survived by his two children from a previous marriage and by her two nieces.

Written by Rachel Baird, published in The Guardian, 18 March 2020

Ray Fiveash was born on 9 November 1952 in Hamilton, Canada. His childhood would see him move to the UK at a young age, and then return to Canada later on as a young adult. He lived a life full of adventure, wide-eyed wonder and excitement, hitchhiking around Europe and North Africa after his A levels, and attending the 1969 Isle of Wight festival and seeing the legendary Jimi Hendrix.

He worked in industries and jobs as diverse as land surveying, telecommunications and IT, even studying for a degree as a Computer Scientist at the age of 50. He also managed to find time to become a Practice Manager of a GP surgery, and even had a go at teaching at King Edwards Camp Hill for Girls. This was a man who loved to try new things and push himself all the time to see what he was capable of. In later years, Ray offered his services to the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West Midlands and assisted researches in their applications for grants for worthy research projects. 

Family life was challenging for Ray. His father passed away when he was 14, something that would leave a deep mark on him. He was raised by his mother Annie, along with his sisters Ann and Jean, and he so loved his family.

Ray enjoyed his sport – cycling and tennis and Aston Villa were keen interests, allowing him to spend time with his friends. And in later years, Ray even turned his hand to bridge, becoming a Director and excelling at that too. He was always trying new things, looking to develop himself and was about to start a History of Arts Open University degree!

He was also keen on politics – previously being known as ‘Red Ray’ – he was always interested in learning how he could support those who were more disadvantaged than he. At Birmingham University, he would mentor other students in order for them to have similar opportunities to get on in life.

Ray was probably most proud of his children – Bethan and George – who were a source of contentment, joy and happiness for him. His love for Diana, Bethan and George was one of the most important things in his life. They are a happy, close family unit and I remember they were always taking off for energetic holidays, skiing, cycling, walking, sailing etc. and bringing back amazing stories to tell.

William Michael Pashley, always known as Bill, was born in Birmingham. His grandfather, William Rathbone Pashley, was the founder of WR Pashley Cycles Ltd, the company specialising in making hand-built traditional bicycles, which is still based in Stratford-upon-Avon today. In the late 1950s the family and the factory relocated to Stratford, where Bill enjoyed a rural childhood. He attended King Edward Vl Grammar School (Shakespeare's alma mater) from 1963 to 1970.

Though Bill always excelled at academic and intellectual subjects, he showed an early talent for "hands on" practical activities such as creating stage sets and lighting for school plays, also building mechanical games for school fetes. He struck up a great rapport with his physics master, the legendary Denis Dyson who was on the same inventive wavelength. At 18 Bill gained distinctions in all his A-level exams: general studies, mathematics, physics and chemistry and the physics special paper. He decided to take a degree in civil engineering at Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1971, where he attained a Double First in 1974.

Bill always appreciated the good things in life - fine wine, gourmet food, classical music - and while he was at Cambridge he practised his skills as a talented cook. With other students he formed a small dining club, where Bill cooked Cordon Bleu dishes over two gas rings at the accommodation they shared. During one long summer vacation Bill and a group of university friends set off in a battered Landrover to Turkey, travelling overland via Eastern Europe. Bill became the camp cook, using fresh local ingredients acquired along the way. It was a bonding experience which led to lifelong friendships being formed that were to last all his days.

After university Bill joined John Laing, the firm of building contractors, and assisted in the management of building projects in south-east England, Wales. and the north of Scotland. In 1977 he was transferred for six months to the offices of Atkins, the well-known design company, where he worked on plans for a new Teesside blast furnace. It was during his time in the North East that he met his future wife Jennifer (nee Roberts) a schoolteacher. They were married in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1980, and enjoyed a long and happy marriage of forty years.

Home became a sixteenth century thatched cottage in Welford-upon-Avon when Bill decided to bring his engineering skills to use in running the family business in Stratford. On his father's retirement he became the managing director of WR Pashley Ltd. During his years in Stratford Bill became a leading light in Stratford Manufacturers Association, and was approached to serve as a Justice of the Peace on the Stratford bench. He enjoyed these years of serving the community in Stratford very much, and held the position of JP throughout his time in the town.

One of Bill's interests had always been in the conservation and restoration of historic properties. He was a lifelong member of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, and he and Jennifer set out to repair and restore their Grade II listed thatched cottage using traditional materials. On one memorable occasion Bill even made his own wattle and daub to mend
a wall, going out into the fields to gather cow pats to mix into the daub to bind it, just as a Tudor builder would have done. It worked very effectively! He also became a keen gardener, creating an Elizabethan cottage garden to complement the character of the house.

WR Pashley then acquired another company named Spencer Manufacturing, which produced components for the cycle industry, so Bill moved west to the Shropshire/Worcestershire border where the factory was based, to be its managing director. Home became a shepherd's cottage in the idyllic countryside of Wenlock Edge. Again Bill and Jennifer devoted their spare time to returning the property to its original 18th century character, seeking out vernacular materials, local stone and recycled timber.

Because of his lifelong interest in historic buildings, Bill made the decision to return to college to study the subject, so in 1995 he embarked on a degree course in Heritage Management at Birmingham Universiry while based at home in South Shropshire. After being awarded the degree he was quickly offered a position by the National Trust as Property Manager
of Saltram House and its lands near Plymouth in Devon. So Bill, Jennifer and their six hens all relocated to live in a whitewashed cottage made of cob on the edge of Dartmoor. This was another delightful area to explore and to discover the charms of Devon's beaches and ancient market towns.

After a few years of running the mansion, gardens and lands at Saltram, Bill set his sights on a larger National Trust property and moved on to manage Wallington Hall, its large estate and numerous tenant farms in North Northumberland. Together with Jennifer they bought an ancient stone cottage in the Northumberland National Park, high in the north Pennines, and two miles away from any road or the nearest neighbour. With the cottage came six acres of moorland with a stream, which attracted the most amazing variety of wildlife. Heron fished there, curlew called, skylarks nested in the heather, and adders could be seen basking in the sun.

The downside was the harsh winter climate, which often meant being snowed in. On one unforgettable morning they opened the front door to find a complete wall of snow totally blocking the entrance. They finally managed to dig themselves out after being snowed in for ten days. Dargues Hope with its six acres offered the opportunity to take up a new hobby as smallholders, and the couple soon acquired some rescue animals to stock it: geese, hens and four ewes. Their number soon became six after an impatient ram barged through the fence, resulting in one of the ewes producing twin lambs.

Then in 2001 Wallington Estate with its 13,000 acres of farmland found itself in the midst of the worst agricultural catastrophe in decades: the national epidemic of foot and mouth disease in sheep and cattle. Wallington was soon hit, and within two days a brigade of army marksmen were brought in to slaughter the animals. Soon 300 cattle and 800 sheep were burned on a vast pyre which lasted for five days and could be seen from seven miles away. The carnage continued throughout the spring and summer, the mansion and gardens were closed to the public for months; but Bill earned love and respect from his staff and local farmers for his managerial skills, commitment and compassion in steering everyone through this time of horror.

At the age of 50 in 2002 Bill accepted the post of Operations Manager at Tate St Ives, the prestigious art gallery in Cornwall, which meant relocating to the opposite end of the country. He was always excited by the prospect of a new job challenge, but at this time he began to experience the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis soon after he commenced running the famous art gallery. He battled with its ever-worsening effects for the next 17 years, becoming ever more disabled, and though wheelchair-bound he continued to work in his very responsible position until the age of 60, when he retired.
At the time he received an enormous number of accolades for his contribution to the development of the Gallery and Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden. In a handwritten tribute the then director of the Tate Gallery in London, Sir Nicholas Serota, expressed his appreciation to Bill for the dedication, skill and stability he had brought to the Gallery which ensured its success.

Sadly Bill was not able to enjoy a long retirement, as his illness became increasingly advanced, and he died at the age of 67 from pneumonia, a complication arising from MS. It is a measure of the man that it was his wish to donate his body for MS research, to help find a cure for this devastating illness.

Jennifer Pashley

Joan began life in Queensbury, a small village in the West Riding of Yorkshire that is home of the Black Dyke Mills and geographically, one of the highest parishes in England. The only one of her siblings to be born there, her father’s armed forces posting had obliged her parents to move away from London but she always had a Yorkshire woman’s no-nonsense approach to life. The youngest of eight, she was not a strong child and doctors had expressed concern about her long-term health prospects but the Lodge family were made of sterner stuff; she was to live for 99 years.

From an early age, she showed signs of remarkable intellect despite her physical limitations. When her sister Florrie started school at the age of five, Joan (two years younger) wanted to go as well. The local school accepted her and thus began an outstanding scholastic evolution. She won a place at Thornton Grammar School, on the outskirts of Bradford, where she excelled in all subjects but particularly, classics and languages in which, throughout her grammar school education, she was awarded prizes every year.

In order to get to school each day, Joan had to walk down a steep hill to the Queensbury Railway Station and catch a train to Thornton. This wasn’t so bad, she said, but the walk back up the hill with all her schoolbooks at the end of the day was tiring for a girl of small stature and sometimes, naughty boys would steal her satchel and run off with it, leaving it to be recovered from nearby bushes. One day, one of the older boys from the school who travelled the same route saw this happen, chased the younger boys off and thereafter, took on the role of informal protector and carried her satchel up the hill for her every afternoon – she wasn’t teased again after that!

She matriculated with distinction at thirteen but remained in school until she entered Birmingham University in 1938. She was supported through her grammar school years and degree by her older sisters, Amy and Maud, who worked in the Black Dyke Mills to ensure that there were funds for her to benefit from the best education possible. Their sacrifices were amply repaid as she graduated in June 1941 with an excellent upper second Batchelor of Arts Honours degree in French Language and Literature.

She was a lifelong member of Birmingham’s University House Society and remained in contact with friends from those days until she was in her final years.

Joan’s university career took place against a backdrop of hardship and then, two years before she graduated, W.W.II broke out. This prevented her from spending time studying her subject at first hand whilst an undergraduate but when the war was over, she went to Paris where she spent an extremely enjoyable year teaching at the Collège Franco-Brittanique and taking classes at the Sorbonne, where her knowledge of French, Latin and Greek were a necessary prerequisite. Displaying a previously unsuspected talent, she also joined ‘The English Players’, with whom she gave her Olivia in Twelfth Night - or ‘Le Nuit des Rois’, as the programme has it - at venues across Paris.

Upon her return, she joined the teaching profession and committed her life to the education of a new generation. For Joan, teaching was a vocation and this dedication set the pace and tenor for the rest of her life.

Amongst her teaching posts in England, she was Senior Mistress at Upper Chine School on the Isle of Wight, where three of her married sisters had settled in the 1940’s and where she returned regularly to visit them.

In 1961, she left Upper Chine to take up her last full-time position at another independent boarding school for girls, Braeside School in Buckhurst Hill, Essex. Appointed by the school founder as the first Headmistress, her life and times at Braeside were very happy. She always said that before her marriage, she had hundreds of daughters and she set high standards for them to aspire to whilst running a well-disciplined establishment.

She was introduced to her late husband, John, a widower, through a friend of the family and they married in 1968. Joan left her beloved Braeside at the end of the school year and moved into her husband’s home in Trowbridge, Wiltshire where they enjoyed 32 years of happy married life together.

Once married, she semi-retired but regularly provided supply cover at the Trowbridge Boys’ High School, which was next door to her new home and, until it closed in 1980, the Fitzmaurice Grammar School in Bradford-on-Avon, where the pupils must have thought her part of the family whose name it bore.

Before their marriage, John was an active member of the Rotarians and Joan entered into the life of the local, national and international Rotary movement with the same enthusiasm and flair as she showed for all her chosen pursuits. After being heavily involved in the Trowbridge Inner Wheel, serving in several committee positions as well as District Chair and member of the National Committee, Joan became the National President of the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs of Great Britain in 1990.

Together they travelled the world as GB&I ambassadors for Rotary and Inner Wheel in addition to taking some adventurous holidays on far-flung continents. Joan always returned home with a wealth of new experiences and stories to share, including, after a European trip, how her Latin and Greek had served her well in communicating with local people in Italy and Greece – not a problem she ever had when travelling in France!

In her new domestic role, she became a very accomplished cook and enjoyed the opportunities that the Rotary and Inner Wheel clubs offered to entertain and to host charity events. With a large garden now at her disposal, she and John together managed it to produce an impressive selection of both vegetables and blooms, the latter used often for another of her skills - flower arranging.

Already a skilful seamstress, she shone when faced with the annual challenge of the Inner Wheel carnival float, designing and making accurate period costumes that ranged in time from the Tudors to the ‘20’s. She also joined an embroidery class and found that she both enjoyed and excelled at this creative hobby, creating work that won her both plaudits and prizes. On acquiring a knitting machine, she extended her abilities further and was self-taught, producing lovely pieces for herself, John and other family members as well as supporting the various Fayres and sales connected to her charitable interests.
Joan’s involvement with Holy Trinity Church was very important to her during her years in Trowbridge. She was, with John, a regular member of the congregation and served as Lay Vice Chairman of the Parochial Church Council. Such was her commitment to the Grade II* listed building that she successfully applied to charities, trusts and the Heritage Lottery Fund, raising thousands of pounds for essential repairs and securing the future of the stained glass windows, in particular two in the North Transept Wall that were made by Morris & Co., Westminster and dedicated in 1938.

Following John’s death in 2000, her social circle gradually dwindled and she moved to a co-housing apartment Wokingham in 2006 to be nearer her niece Margaret, to whom she was particularly close, and her stepson Jonathan. Sadly, after a few years her health had deteriorated and in 2009 she moved to assisted living in Weybridge and latterly, in East Molesey. Although in her final months she often found it challenging to find the right words in her native language, she was able to articulate her views in French, a linguist to the very end.

She has outlived all of her siblings, though her sisters all lived well into their 90th decade, and leaves behind two stepchildren, Jonathan and Angela, three grandchildren and two great grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews from her own family. She was a significant influence in shaping many lives and her presence will be sadly missed.

Jon Fitzmaurice OBE
Stepson

John Maund (MSc Chemical Engineering, 1956; PhD Chemical Engineering, 1959) sadly died on 19 May, aged 83, after a serious illness. In the words of his son, Andrew: 'Dad was always immensely proud of the fact that he attended the University of Birmingham. He followed first a BSc course in Chemical Engineering, before going on to complete his MSc and then PhD in the same department.

'He continued to maintain a connection with the University throughout his working and personal life. After some time in industry he joined the teaching staff in Chemical Engineering at Aston University, “head-hunted” by one of his former Birmingham professors. My sister Kate read Chemistry for a BSc at Birmingham, and my mother, Gill, worked for many years as a Secretary in the Mathematics department at Birmingham. I completed the family links by following a part-time MPhil course with the English Department. Dad has also left a legacy to the University in his will.'

We were sad to hear of John’s passing but also proud to learn about the role Birmingham played in his life and for the Maund family. We are also extremely grateful that John chose to give to the University in his will; he is helping today’s generation of students to succeed at Birmingham as he did.

J. Marcus Murphy has died of lymphoma after a short illness, in Victoria, BC. He was 84. Born in York, England he was a graduate of Birmingham (LLB Law, 1956) and Cambridge Universities and a Fulbright Scholar. He practiced law in the USA, UK, Belgium, Canada and Tanzania before a retirement spent in Brussels, Guernsey and, finally, Victoria. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Alexina Murphy (née King), four children and ten grandchildren, and his brother, Michael. A full obituary can be found at https://earthsoption.com/tribute/details/2046/Marcus-MURPHY/obituary.html#tribute-start

Professor Garth Hastings was one of the early pioneers in the field of biomaterials science. He made significant breakthroughs in a number of areas, in particular in the development and uses of bioceramics, carbon fibre, polymers and titanium.

His book with Bernard Bloch, Plastics in Medicine, published in 1969, was the first in this field. He went on to author more than 200 publications in the field of biomaterials science. He also published several books, including the Handbook of Biomaterial Properties with Jonathan Black.

He was the founding editor of the journal Biomaterials which grew to become the most important European journal in the field and was on the editorial board of the Journal of Biomedical Materials Research, the world leading journal.

Professor Hastings was born in Portsmouth in 1932. He spent a peripatetic childhood during the war years, moving from Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight, Newbury, Cleethorpes and Chandlers Ford, where he recalled senior military officers poring over maps planning for D-day in a room of the roadhouse run by his parents. One of the other guests was Sydney Camm, the designer of the Hurricane fighter plane.

Following the war, the family settled in Darlington where his mother and father bought and ran a transport café on the Great North Road. An inquisitive child, always looking to learn from the world around him, the young Garth Hastings attended the King James I Grammar School in Bishop Auckland where his love of science grew, in particular Chemistry.

In 1953 he gained a place at Birmingham to study Chemistry, the first in his family to go to university. Following his first degree, he was awarded a PhD at Birmingham, working on polymers under the guidance of Sir Harry Melville – he was awarded a DSc from the University in 1980.

On leaving university, he moved to London, working as a science officer at the Ministry of Aviation and living in Chingford. It was there he met and married his wife Theresa in 1958.

In 1961, they moved to Australia where Garth was appointed senior lecturer in chemistry, specialising in polymers, at the University of New South Wales. It was here that his focus on biomaterials began to develop and flourish.

His academic career took him far and wide. He was visiting Professor at the Twente University in Holland and Karlsruhe University, Germany. On return from Australia to the UK in 1972 he became Head of the Bioengineering Unit at Staffordshire University and Professor of Biomedical Engineering. He then became Senior Fellow in the Department of Materials. He also became Associate Director of the Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Biomedical Materials at Queen Mary & Westfield College, at the University of London. He became a Visiting Professor in Bioengineering at Strathclyde University. In 1995, he became Visiting Professor at the National University of Singapore and Director of Biomaterials in the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering.

In 1975 he became a consultant for UNIDO for medical uses of materials. For more than 25 years he worked on numerous projects and programmes in China, Hong Kong, Laos, Cambodia and Mongolia, where he and his wife were awarded honorary citizenship.

For over 30 years he was involved in standards for medical materials and devices, actively driving work in this area. He was an inaugural member of the Australian Standards Association and was involvement with BSI and ISO on surgical implants for 25 years, chairing the BSI committee for a number of years and leading the UK implant delegation to ISO for 10 years.

He was President of the Biological Engineering Society for two years and represented them on the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee and a committee of the Royal College of Surgeons.

He passionately believed in the importance of sharing knowledge and that science advances through the open exchange of research, ideas and information. It was a passion that took him around the world to host and contribute to conferences, bringing people together to spark ideas and explore new avenues of research in the quest to find solutions to challenges in biomaterials science.

Though he loved travel, he was more than just a visitor. He immersed himself in and developed deep and abiding connections with the people, culture and values of the many countries where he visited, worked in and lived. He was driven by a curiosity about the world and its people, and a hunger to learn about and experience new things.

Throughout his life he was guided by a deep faith. He took a degree in theology in 1967 while in Australia and became a lay preacher. He always believed there was an intimate relationship between his passion for scientific exploration and learning and his Christian faith.

In 2010, Professor Hastings was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and his health gradually started to deteriorate as the condition developed. He died peacefully on 3 March 2019 surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Theresa, their four children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Professor Sidney Alan Barker as I remember him - Dr Syed Amir (DPhil Chemistry, 1963)

I arrived at Birmingham in the autumn of 1960 from Karachi Pakistan to pursue graduate studies in Chemistry, a wide-eyed young man who had never set foot out of his country before. It was a gloomy, cold day, archetypal of fall days in the English Midlands. A graduate student from the Chemistry Department had earlier picked me up at Snow Hill Station and gave me some helpful directions how to get to my bed-and-breakfast place where I had found temporary lodging.

The following day, I found my way to the Chemistry Department and to the Hills Extension building. The Haworth building was still under construction. Professor Maurice Stacey, the then head of the department, a kindly-looking gentleman, had his office on the second floor and greeted me warmly. He took me to meet Dr. Barker who had his office and laboratory on the ground floor. Dr. Barker was to be my Ph.D. advisor. A relatively young man, I noticed his laboratory was a busy place, where some six or seven students were working on their research projects. Especially reassuring to me was the fact that among them three were foreign students, much like me. In time, I got to know all of them, and they proved very helpful in guiding me during my early initiation phase in the academic customs and practices of the department.

Barker, a senior lecturer at the time, followed a strict routine. Once every week, he would talk to his students individually in his office for about an hour or so, reviewing the results from the previous week and setting some kind of research agenda for the following week. After that, he did not hang over their heads, pressing for new results. He had a very fertile mind, as I discovered during my weekly sessions, as in a short time he would come up with many suggestions about how to pursue a given line of research. In my lengthy research career in England and later in the USA, I can hardly think of another investigator who was so original and creative in his/her thinking.

He arrived in the laboratory usually very early in the morning, so early that I never recall not seeing him when I arrived about 8am. He left punctually at five in the afternoon and rarely stayed late.  He always bid me cheerio on his way home as he passed by my bench. In those days, there was no direct phone lines to call an outside number and all calls went through a university operator. There was only one public telephone booth in the department, was operated by insertion of coins and was mostly busy. Besides, there was one other telephone that was located in Barker’s office. Nobody used it until he had gone home for the day.

Ever year Dr. Barker had a Christmas party at his house for his research team, with an abundance of food and drinks. His team looked forward to it eagerly.  He was especially mindful of foreign students in his group who had nothing to do at this time and felt lonely, so he invited me and a few others at his house on the Boxing Day. Usually, on this occasion, his mother and mother-in-law were also present, and I recall it as a joyful occasion in a relaxed and unhurried environment. He loved music and often played piano at home.

The Barker laboratory had an eclectic, cosmopolitan milieu where investigators drawn from different countries came to learn and sometime teach specific techniques. At one time, we had a galaxy of students from the USA (John Willard), Norway (Miss Erickson), Lebanon (Shibli Bayyuk), Venezuela, Iraq, Pakistan. An interesting case was of Mrs. Grace  Pardo, who having spent years with her husband managing tea plantations in Assam (India) returned to England, came out of retirement to work on her Ph.D. In those days, we seldom called people by their first names, unless we knew them very well. So, she was always known as Mrs. Pardo. She completed her doctoral degree and I am not sure what she did afterwards.

Dr. Barker’s research interests had been evolving from basic carbohydrate chemistry to life sciences and biochemistry. I completed my PhD in 1963 in chemistry, but then he guided me as a postdoctoral fellow to move in the direction of endocrinology. I refocused on studying the chemistry of follicle-stimulating hormone, one of the hormones essential for human fertility.  This work was conducted in collaboration with investigators at Women’s Hospital where all the animal testing was performed.  Dr. Barker became interested in this work and he often drove me to the hospital to have meeting with our collaborators, Dr. A.C. Crooke and Prof. Wilfred Butt. It was an opportunity for us to talk one to one, away from the laboratory and in an informal atmosphere. My move to endocrinology was a lucky break as it opened an entirely new and thriving field to me, enabling me to continue my work in the USA in this area.

Dr. Barker was naturally a shy person, especially when meeting with strangers.  He was occasionally invited by his overseas students to their national day dinners in the Student’s Union. He always came with Ruth, his first wife. While she was a confident guest, Barker felt a little awkward amidst strangers, but after he had a drink or two, he relaxed and then enjoyed the evening, socializing with others.

I was associated with him for six years, a relatively long time, and he felt at ease with me. At one time when he was away to the US on a lecture tour, he asked me to open all his official mail and to respond if needed. His primary interest was his research and he had no hobbies that I knew. At one time, he was diagnosed with high blood pressure and advised to relax and not be so preoccupied with his academic work. He forced himself to take some time off in the afternoons for a round of golf. Occasionally, he would ask me to accompany  him in the afternoon for a cup of tea in the newly opened staff house. He later seems to have found a new hobby and got very interested applying his well-horned investigative skills in tracing records of his family history. I left his laboratory in 1966 for a position in Pakistan.

In 1969, on my way from Pakistan to Los Angeles to take up a research position, I made a brief stopover in Birmingham, where my wife’s parents lived, and had a short meeting with Dr. Barker who was in the middle of some conference. He had been promoted to full professor by then and was due to proceed to USA on some teaching and research project.  This was my last meeting with him.

When I visited the chemistry department again in 2000, it had changed so much that it was hard  to recognize it.  The old Fluorine research building had disappeared as had the adjacent undergraduate teaching laboratory. I stopped by my old laboratory in the Hills’ extension where I had spent six enjoyable and productive years. There was a busy new crop of young students, reminding me of my own days some 40 years ago. No one among them, however, knew Alan Barker or even recognized the name. How ephemeral is the nature of fame and celebrity? I mused.

Sidney Alan Barker (or Alan as he preferred to be known) passed away peacefully on Sunday October 14th, 2018 at the Moundsley Care Village Nursing Home, Kings Norton, Birmingham after a brief illness.

Born and raised in Lovells, Birmingham, the son of Gladys (Allen) and Philip Henry Barker, a tinsmith. He was the second eldest of four children.

Music was encouraged from an early age, with both the violin and piano being learnt. It was however at the piano that Alan excelled and from an early age he played duets with his eldest sister Olga, and on several occasions they played on Children’s Hour hosted by Uncle Mac.

Alan achieved high grades during his school years at Handsworth Grammar School and developed a special affinity for history and chemistry. In September 1944 he commenced his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry at Birmingham and went on to achieve a first class honours, followed by his PhD a few years later. He specialised in carbohydrate chemistry and the department by this time had become world renown following the achievement of Professor Haworth in synthesising vitamin C, for which he won a Nobel Prize.

Following the submission of 51 papers, Alan was awarded his Doctor of Science in 1957 and was made Professor of Carbohydrate Chemistry in 1969. During the period that followed he not only travelled worldwide but also worked closely with industry and many of the top 100 companies. He was recently recognised for 60 years membership and support of the Royal Society for Chemistry.

He retired from the University and teaching when he was 65 years but carried on with some consultancy work and it was shortly after this that his first wife Miriam Ruth Barker passed away with cancer. They had been married 42 years and had three children; two daughters and a son. He remarried shortly afterwards to Jean Clare and is survived by his widow. Later in his career and during his retirement he developed a passion for history, and after tracing the family history back to 1100 AD, he applied for and was granted a Coat of Arms. He was as sought after for his skills on lecturing in the heraldry field as in chemistry. He has donated both his chemistry research and much of his history collection to the special collections department of the University Library.

David died in Owen Sound on Wednesday, August 29, in his 86th year, after a struggle with dementia. He was much loved by his wife of 40 years, Eleanor DeWolf, and his daughters Anne Britton of Thornbury and Ruth (Ry Smith) of Oakville and is fondly remembered by Anne’s and Ruth’s mother, Ellen Mitchell of Toronto. He was a caring grandad to Kathryn, Steven, and Michael Osborne, and Paul, James and Laura Smith (Dave Schindler); and great-grandad to Ada Schindler. David also leaves his many DeWolf in-laws, and nieces and nephews in England, the United States and Australia.

David was born in Burton upon Trent. After military service in Egypt, David graduated from the University of Birmingham in 1956 and, armed with a degree in Hispanic Studies, answered an ad for a “bright young man” in the Accounting Department at Shell’s Montreal East Refinery. A successful 28-year career with Shell Canada followed.

David enjoyed many years of retirement, but was perhaps most happy during the years living in the country near Meaford, driving his truck and tractor, cutting trails through the woods, tending the creek where the rainbow trout spawn, and planting trees.

As David wished, there will be no visitation or service. An informal gathering for family and friends will take place at a later date.

Dr. George Charles Chalstrey Smith of Delmar, NY and Laguna Woods, CA passed away March 30, 2018. He was born July 24, 1925 in Tipton, West Midlands, UK  to George Smith and Emily Doris Chalstrey Smith.

He studied Engineering at the University of Birmingham, the Cranfield Institute of Technology, and served in the Royal Air Force Bomber Command in the UK and India. He was preceded in death by his brother Harry of Wolverhampton, UK; brother Donald of Telford, UK and survived by his sister Pamela of Wolverhampton, UK.

Dr Smith spent a long career in aeronautics, making contributions to advanced engineering of Concorde, Saturn V, Lunar Lander, and Space Shuttle programs, as well as many other fields of Engineering endeavour. He was a member of the AIAA and a fellow of the AOIA and was recognised as a leading expert on structural dynamics and flutter.

After his early career with British Aircraft in Filton, UK, he emigrated with his family to the United States in 1966 where he was Chief Engineer of Structural Dynamics at Bell Aerospace. In 1974 he earned a doctorate in Aerospace Engineering from State University of New York at Buffalo.

In 1997 he retired from Bell and established a winter residence in Laguna Woods, CA. He enjoyed numerous activities throughout his life, including birding, soccer, golf, tennis, and contact bridge. 

He is survived by his wife, Beryl Josephine Ellwood Smith of Delmar, NY; son Matthew and wife Pamela of Phoenix AZ; son Jonathan and wife Mary of Tustin, CA; son Dr. Stephen Smith and wife Barbara Boyle of Delmar NY, and daughter-in-law Donna Smith of Tustin, CA.  He is also survived by grandchildren Elizabeth and Susannah Smith of Northbridge, CA; Byron Smith of San Francisco; Renee Smith of Tustin, CA; Abigail Smith of Northampton, MA; and Caitlin Smith of Bryn Mawr, PA.

Submitted by Dr Stephen Patrick Chalstrey Boyle Smith from New York.

The English conductor, composer and arranger Alan Abbott has died at his home in Birmingham at the age of 91. Specialising in opera and ballet, his conducting engagements took him across the globe, including appointments in Turkey, Australia and Scandinavia. His most famous piece, Alla caccia for French horn and piano, has become a staple of the recital repertoire; he also worked on the score for Les Misérables and the ballet of The Merry Widow.

Born in Birmingham in 1926, Abbott’s initial musical training was with the pianist Joyce Chandler. His studies were interrupted by war service with the Royal Air Force, beginning in London: this enabled him to attend Sir Thomas Beecham’s 1946 Delius festival, which inspired a lifelong love of this composer. After being transferred to Canada, Abbott taught himself to read orchestral scores during the breaks between flying training sessions on Avro Ansons.

On returning to the University of Birmingham, he was awarded the gold medal and Barber Trust scholarship in the final year of his music degree. This enabled him to move to the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied orchestration with Gordon Jacob, French horn with Frank Probyn and conducting with Richard Austin. He composed Alla caccia in 1949, when one of his colleagues realised on the day before her final concert that she had overlooked the requirement to include in her programme both a piece from the twentieth century and one by a British composer. Abbott generously rose to meet this challenge on both counts.

Practical music making always held the greatest appeal for him. Although he began a teacher training course at the University of Reading, his increasing commitments as a performer in London led to a conducting position with the Carl Rosa touring opera company. This was followed by a spell in the West End, conducting musicals and operetta and composing incidental music. In 1958–9, he conducted the Royal Ballet on a tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Abbott was employed for several years as a producer in the BBC Light Music Department, working with the BBC Concert Orchestra and colleagues such as Stanford Robinson and Vilem Tausky. In 1965, he accepted an invitation to become Music Director of Turkish Ballet and resident conductor at the Ankara Opera House.

Abbott moved to Australia in 1971, becoming resident conductor of Australian Ballet and, five years later later, musical director of Western Australian Opera. With the Western Australian Arts Orchestra, he made several opera recordings as well as initiating a series of performances called Opera In Concert, for which he acted as compère. Under his leadership, attendances at the Perth Concert Hall reached a remarkable 95–98% capacity each season.

Returning to the United Kingdom in 1979, Abbott continued to be in demand as an arranger. He collaborated with Peter Washtell on the score for the musical Les Misérables and undertook numerous joint projects with John Lanchbery, including a ballet version of The Merry Widow and editions of the ballets of Léon Minkus. For almost two decades, Abbott was regularly engaged in Scandinavia, conducting the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, the Royal Swedish Ballet and the Royal Danish Ballet. Many of these concerts were televised. He also appeared as a guest conductor with the Paris Opera Ballet.

Abbott made a number of recordings, including two discs of piano music with the London Symphony Orchestra and the pianist Guy Saint-­‐Clair and the soundtrack for the 1995 revival of The Iron Horse silent film. Warmly regarded by all those with whom he worked, Abbott continued in his latter years to sustain the many friendships he had developed across the world. He was generous in supporting other musicians and always had a fund of stories and anecdotes from his varied career.

In 2011, Abbott was awarded a pension from the Civil List for services to music. Despite increasing ill health, he was able to continue living in his family home in south Birmingham thanks to devoted care from friends. He was predeceased by his lifetime partner, the tenor Lazarus Gerald Stern (‘Larry’), in 2016.

My mother, Lilian Nanette Wise (nee Gregg) was an undergraduate at the University of Birmingham from 1942-1944, graduating with a Wartime Degree as her studies were interrupted by essential war work.

She was very proud of her association with the University. It was from there, during her second year, that she was recruited to Bletchley Park. I thought you may be interested in seeing her entry on the Bletchley Roll Of Honour - she is also the woman in the iconic Bletchley photo. I am immensely proud of her.

Julia Wise

Dr. Deirdre Edward (née Waldron) died on December 21, 2017 at Vigi Mont Royal at the age of 94.

She is missed by her brothers Kevin Waldron (Fay, deceased) and Brian Waldron (Eva), by her sons John Valentine, Jeremy (Laura), and Julian (Pamela), and by her grandchildren William, Deirdre, and Isaac, niece Annika and nephew Seamus. Deirdre is predeceased by her husband John (Jack) Edward (1999).

She was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 23, 1923 to Cyril John Waldron and Kathleen Mary Keegan. The family moved to Birmingham, England where she attended school, earning a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Birmingham Faculty of Medicine in 1954.

Deirdre married John Thomas Edward on March 21, 1953, and after a stint at Trinity College Dublin, she went with John to Canada in 1957. She commenced work at McGill University Department of Experimental Surgery in 1960 and is the author of numerous scientific papers in the field of biochemistry, having been cited as recently as last year.

Among her notable works were a number of studies on ways to inhibit the body from absorbing radioactive strontium, which was a serious health concern until the 1963 international treaty banning open air testing of nuclear weapons. Her work on strontium absorption was recognized not only in the scientific community, but also by Tensho Kotai Jingu Kyo, a religious order in Japan, whose head, known as Ogamisima, or “the great god”, hosted Deirdre for lunch. In 1963, Deirdre was recognized in Chatelaine magazine as a Woman of the Year. Despite the challenges of being an engaged mother of three at the same time as being a female academic in the 60s and 70s, Deirdre continued to work at McGill until her retirement in 1988.

She enjoyed reading and travelling and spent many summers at the family cottage in Vermont. After her retirement, she was a regular volunteer for a number of charitable organisations, including the McGill Book Fair, and was active in the parish of Ascension of Our Lord and the Canadian Association for Irish Studies.

Maurice grew up in Langley, Worcestershire, and attended Oldbury County High School before going up to the University of Birmingham in 1944, aged 17, to study Chemistry. He was a keen sportsman and played football for the University.

On completing his degree, he carried out his National Service duties in the Army Education Corps, serving in Oswestry and at Buchanan Castle, Drymen, before returning to Birmingham to qualify as a teacher. He remained in the Midlands, teaching at King’s Norton Grammar School for Boys and at Edward Shelley School, Walsall, before becoming Head of Science at Churchfields School, West Bromwich.

In 1968, a new phase of Maurice’s life began when, together with his wife Jean and young daughter Helen, he moved to Warwick to take up the headship of Oken High School for Boys, with the immediate task of managing its merger with the adjoining girls’ school to become Myton High School (later renamed Myton School), of which he remained Headmaster for 22 years.

Following his retirement in 1990, Maurice continued his involvement in education, serving as a governor within the Warwick Independent Schools Foundation. During his retirement years, Maurice was an active member of Warwick Avon Rotary Club and served as a Parish Councillor in Stratford-upon-Avon (where he and Jean had settled a few years earlier), as well as continuing to attend the Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick on a regular basis.

Maurice’s active engagement in these organisations and roles was a great source of comfort and strength to him when Jean passed away on 1 January 2001, after a short illness. In the years following her death, Maurice spent much time with Helen and her family and was an ever-loving and supportive presence during the formative years of his grandsons, Thomas and William.

After several years of declining health, Maurice passed away on Saturday 4 March 2017 at Leycester House Care Home, Warwick, where he had been looked after with great kindness and dignity. He is very sadly missed by his family and surviving friends.

Karl cared. His passions shaped his being and his image. He thought deeply and sought intellectual understanding. He was an atheist who respected religious ceremony, a republican who hoped to get a royal telegram at 100. He was a socialist, but admired politicians at every level and of every hue who were true to their ideals, clear and accountable. He was an aficionado of art, music, opera, theatre, crosswords, wine and whisky, devotions all shared with Rosaleen, his wife of 53 years, and of books, although she wasn’t so keen on living in a library. Most of all, Karl was an individual who cared that everything should be just so, and he was determined to do everything possible to make it so.

Karl grew up in Ibstock, Leicestershire, surrounded by the power of words. His parish clerk father Harry ran the family printing business. His mother Louise’s cousin Bernard Newman wrote over 100 books. Authors DH Lawrence and Mary Anne Evans (George Eliot) were distant relations. His ambition to be a journalist was explored in school vacations on the local newspaper, The Coalville Times, and in editing magazines and taking an English degree at The University of Birmingham (BSc English, circa 1949) only for illness to thwart his becoming a graduate trainee with Lord Kemsley (of Dropmore), owner of The Sunday Times. Instead, he made his mark in the book trade, initially at a wholesaler where he recommended the acquisition of Casino Royale, Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel; it sold 18,000 hardback copies in a year.

In 1953, Karl went to the Bahamas to run The Island Bookshop. Perfect climate. Idyllic lifestyle. Then it got better. While directing See How They Run, he fell in love with the leading lady: Rosaleen Malone, a pioneer BOAC air hostess who later “looked fabulous” in Three Sisters. They married in 1965 and headed home for him to aid André Deutsch doing paperback publishing deals before managing systems, computers and operations as Granada Publishing was acquired by Collins which merged to be HarperCollins. If he couldn’t get his way with charm and persistent logic, he would ruffle feathers – including those of Robert Maxwell on a Parliamentary committee considering worldwide academic copyright. He drove the development of International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN), led UK implementation of machine readable codes, foresaw e-books, was a trustee of HarperCollins pension fund and ‘Mr Fixit’ for media moguls Sidney Bernstein and Rupert Murdoch.

Rosaleen and Karl brought baby Roisin (MSc Applied Geophysics, 1992) to the village of Taplow, Buckinghamshire in 1969. Their son Ronan arrived two years later. They have immersed themselves in the Taplow village community ever since. An incurable lung condition didn’t stop him running the church fete bookstall for years, helping create Taplow at the Millennium (A. Forsyth), providing advice and editing for Taplow Moments (N. Smales), joining the Village Preservation Society’s committee in 2003 and acting as its energetic chairman for five years from 2011.

Opinions? He had a few. Disagreements? Yes, but never disrespect. The game was less persuasion than performance of principles, knowledge and indulgent eloquence. His was valuable counsel. However, of all Karl’s achievements, perhaps most important are the fond memories of his family and lifelong friends who knew “a lovely man”. Rosaleen married him because “He was the kindest man I’d ever met”. What better epitaphs could he have? Karl is survived by; Rosaleen Lawrence, his wife of 53 years. Roisin Lakings, nee Lawrence (MSc 1992 Applied Geophysics) his daughter and her family in Denver, Colorado. Ronan Lawrence, his son and his family in Wiltshire and Clark Lawrence, his son in Ventura, California.

My mother, Diana Wallace, who studied for a Diploma in Social Studies at the University of Birmingham from 1943-1945, has died at the age of 92. After graduating she became a social worker, taking up her first post with the Family Welfare Association in Camberwell, one of the most severely bomb-damaged London boroughs. This was the first of many such positions: she remained active in the field in both a professional and voluntary capacity throughout the rest of her life.

Diana was born in Exeter in 1924 to architect John Sidey and his wife Florence (née Brinsmead). The youngest of a close-knit family of two brothers and four sisters, she forged many lifelong friendships at St Margaret’s School, Exeter, where she eventually became Head Girl. As a teenager she developed her Christian faith, which gave her life its foundations and values, and sustained her through the good times and the tough.

Diana was the only one of her siblings not to join the forces during the war; instead, she enrolled for the Diploma in Social Studies. During this period, she lived and worked with some of the poorest residents of the city at the Birmingham Settlement on Summer Lane. This independent agency is committed to a range of projects aimed at combating poverty and social deprivation. Her memories of this period included not only the familiar student tales of late-night discussions with friends, but also vivid accounts of bombing raids on the city’s munitions factories. Diana counted her time in Birmingham as life-changing, opening her eyes to levels of social inequality and injustice that had remained out of sight to a girl of her background growing up in Exeter. Together, she and I met up in Birmingham a few years ago to visit the recently opened National Trust museum in the old back-to-back houses on Hurst Street. This was the kind of housing she had encountered in the Summer Lane area during the war, and her recollections brought the place to life for me.

After moving to London for her first job, she met Ralph Hinds, a solicitor, whom she married in 1952. After the birth of their first child, they left the smog and cramped spaces of the city for the clean air and wide beaches of Bournemouth, where Diana lived for the rest of her life. She soon began to attend St Alban’s Church, where she remained a valued member of the congregation, church committees and projects for over fifty years.  She served as Chairman of the Bournemouth Council for Voluntary Services and was the founding Chairman of James Michael House, which provided accommodation and support for vulnerable women and their children.  Professionally, she became one of the key social workers for the Wel-Care association in the Diocese of Winchester, founding its Bournemouth branch.  Her achievements were recognised by an MBE in 1993.

Diana married her second husband, retired teacher John Wallace, in 1992. Together they enjoyed an active retirement: he was a talented wood-worker, while she was an expert and highly knowledgeable gardener, tending flowers, fruit and vegetables with equal success. They travelled widely, continuing their caravanning holidays in France well into their 80s. 

Diana died peacefully in Bournemouth hospital after a short illness.  During her last weeks she received many visits from family and friends, her deep pleasure in the people who filled her life remaining to the end. She was predeceased by John by a week, and is survived by my brother Nigel and me, her stepdaughter Sue, her grandchildren Freddie, Anna and Rosamund, and great-granddaughter Isabelle.

Hilary Hinds

28 March 2017

Philip Edwin Barker, 87, died peacefully on Wednesday, 18 January, 2017 at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, following a brief illness.

He leaves his wife of 63 years, Betty, daughter Susan, and two sons, Roger and Jonathan, four grandchildren and many close friends.

Born and raised in Lozells, Birmingham, the son of Gladys (Allen) and Philip Henry Barker, a Tinsmith, Philip was the third of four children, Olga, Alan and Audrey.

In his early years, Philip would help at the local greengrocers and learnt to play the piano achieving grade VI. After finishing at Handsworth Grammar School in 1946 Philip joined the army and was attached to the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers until 1949. On leaving the army he attended the University of Birmingham until 1952 completing a degree in Chemical Engineering. After his degree he joined Midland Tar Company and was involved in the commissioning of a new plant for the production of important aromatic hydrocarbons derived from coal tar.

In 1956, Philip returned to Birmingham as a lecturer in Chemical Engineering supervising PhD students and conducting his own research projects and made several trips to the USA and Europe to present his research. In 1968, Philip obtained a Doctor of Science at the University. He was the first person to achieve a DSc in the newly formed Chemical Engineering Department.

In 1970, Philip became a Professor at Aston University. Along with Professor Jefferies, the then Head of Department, he was responsible for building up a department of 300 undergraduate and post-graduate students in the new Chemical Engineering Building. Philip retired in 1995 at the age of 66.

Philip enjoyed sailing, spending time with the family, travelling and playing the piano. He particularly enjoyed visiting Wisemans Bridge in Pembrokeshire which he always remembered fondly.

Frederick John Bryant was born and raised in a public house in Ogmore Vale, Wales on 31 August 1931. He attended Ogmore Vale Grammar School where he was captain of the rugger team and victor ludorum. In 1949 he went to the University of Birmingham where he was awarded a BSc (Physics), a PhD (Electron Physics) and, for published work, a DSc (Space Research). He represented the University at contract bridge and enjoyed playing squash.

Between 1955 and 1957 he fulfilled his Military Service obligations at English Electric Valve Co., Chelmsford, where he published work and patents on travelling-wave tubes. As a Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Research Council, Ottawa between 1957 and 1959 he worked on the luminescence of organic crystals such as anthracene.

He returned to the UK to lecture at the University of Hull, where he established an internationally-recognised research group working on radiation damage to Group II-VI compounds. A 500 keV electron accelerator was modified to deliver precise energies and used to determine accurate atomic displacement energies in these compounds by observing changes in physical properties such as luminescence, thermoluminescence etc. An important result was the use of electron radiation damage to establish preferential pairing of donors and acceptors during growth of single crystals.

A positive-ion accelerator which he built allowed the study and precise modification of the luminescence and electroluminescence properties of films and single crystals, including those doped with rare earths.

In 1976 he was appointed to the first Personal Chair in Science at the University and later became Head of the Physics Department and Dean of Science. He was UK Editor of the Journal of Luminescence in the 1970s and served on the organising and programme Committees of several International Luminescence Conferences.

He was married for 55 years to Anne Hughes, who was also a University of Birmingham graduate (BA Geography and Physical Education, 1954), until her death in 2013. He is survived by his two daughters, Ceri and Judith, who practise at the Chancery Bar.

Gwyneth Denton (nee Forrest), who studied English at the University of Birmingham in the early 1950s, died in April aged 84. After Birmingham she completed a Certificate of Education at Oxford and became a school teacher, teaching English first at King Edward's Handsworth and later at Aylesbury High School in Bucks for almost 25 years.  In her teaching, she always sought to communicate to her pupils the love of learning and the joy of the academic community which she herself had experienced and appreciated so much at Birmingham. At her funeral, the following tribute was read out from one of her former pupils Emma Brocks, Guardian journalist and author:

"She was so good on poetry, and on Shakespeare. My term on Shakespeare at Oxford was utterly based on Mrs Denton's reading and teaching of King Lear, and it's still the only play I have any memory for, thanks entirely to her. She was, I remember, caustic about our affectations, something I look back on with approval and amusement. I remember one November when it was the fashion to wear white poppies instead of red for Remembrance Day, and Mrs Denton called us out on it. 'But what is it supposed to symbolize?' she said. To which, as I recall, our martyred response was, 'that the war should never have happened.' She rolled her eyes so strenuously she almost tipped over."

The exigencies of family life meant that Gwyneth never became a star on the world stage. She was, however, a star on her own smaller stage, as was evidenced by the fact that even 20 years after her retirement former pupils would frequently approach her in the street and thank her for unlocking for them the delights of Graham Greene, Hardy, and Shakespeare.

She met her husband, David Denton, while studying at Birmingham. He was also at the university, studying French. They seem to have started a tradition of attending the University of Birmingham in the family. Their daughter studied at Birmingham in the late 70s and early 80s, and their grandson graduated from Birmingham in 2015.

Stan graduated in Physics in 1936. He had been amongst the first intake of pupils at Holly Lodge Grammar School in Smethwick; his Chemistry master, Dr Dale, had seen ability in him and encouraged him to apply for a scholarship.

Having taken a teaching qualification as well as his degree, he accepted a teaching post at the Dockyard School in Plymouth. In 1939 he married Kathleen Kimpton, whom he had met while at Holly Lodge. After Plymouth Dockyard was heavily bombed during the Second World War, he sought a change of career.

In his youth he had been captivated by the new technology of broadcasting and his hobby was constructing radio receivers. He applied to the BBC who offered him a post in its Engineering Training Department which utilised both his teaching experience and his knowledge of radio technology.

He worked first at Wood Norton (near Evesham), then at Caversham receiving station, later at Maida Vale and then Harewood House in London, before returning to Wood Norton from which he retired in 1972. He had become Head of the BBC’s Technical Publications Department and represented the BBC on some international committees.

Apart from his BBC work, Stan was a prolific writer, regularly contributing articles to the Wireless World. He also wrote many books on electronics and radio topics and edited or contributed to many others.

He attended the meeting at the Institution of Electrical Engineers in the 1950s, at which Professor Shockley first introduced transistors to the UK. The Professor famously threw a handful of the first examples into the audience, resulting in a Rugby scrum of engineers eager to acquire an example! Stan did not get one, but recognition that this was future of electronics led him to write Principles of Transistor Circuits, first published in 1959. Arguably the first textbook of semiconductor electronics, 60 years later it is still in print, now in the hands of another author.

In retirement he lived in Broadway, Worcestershire, and served as Treasurer for Broadway Probus of which he was a founder member and Evesham Retired Teachers. He passed away peacefully in June 2015, a few months short of his 100^th birthday.

Birmingham born and bred, Frank volunteered for the RAF at the outbreak of WW2 when he was 19. He served his tour of duty overseas in North Africa and Italy. After the war ended, he remained a member of the RAF Association for the rest of his life.

He returned to Bournville to study Management Science at the University of Birmingham,  from 1946-49, during which time he was very active socially in the Guild of Undergraduates and was their treasurer. After graduating he was awarded an honorary life membership of the Guild. He went on to complete his PhD in Finance in 1952 and visited South Africa on a Vice-Chancellor's award where he met his future wife.

Whilst working in management consultant posts in various companies in the West Midlands he maintained a constant association with the University. He was an occasional lecturer, was elected President of the Guild of Graduates in 1963, became a life member of 'Court' and served on the University Council until well into his 70s. He was a life Governor of the University.

His two daughters went on to study at the University. A proud father, resplendent in his colourful doctorate robes, he officiated at both their graduations. He lived in Birmingham all his life and was immensely proud of the University and his connection with it.

Alec was a graduate of the University of Birmingham (BSc. Zoology and Comparative Physiology, First Class Honours (1948) and DSc. (1965)) and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (Ph.D. Tropical Medicine (1950)). He joined the Colonial Medical Research Service and worked as a medical entomologist in Tanganyika (1950-1973). This included 13 years in Arusha at the Tropical Pesticides Research Institute, being appointed director in 1967.

In 1973, Alec joined the World Health Organisation and, after leaving Arusha, worked on malaria control projects in South Africa (1973-1976) and West Africa (1973-1980). He was then assigned to Geneva headquarters, where he remained until 1986 when he retired.

In 1982, he was awarded the Ademola Medal, jointly with Dr Robert Kaiser, by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine for “Outstanding Achievements in Health in the Tropics”.

In 1993, Alec published his memoirs entitled “Insect Man – A Fight Against Malaria in Africa”.

Alec enjoyed a happy 28-year retirement in Bexhill-On-Sea, Sussex. He is greatly missed by Irene, his wife of 60 years, his daughters Linda and Diana, and his grandchildren Allison, Elizabeth and Claire. 

(BSc Metallurgy, 1946; PhD, 1949)

Trevor Churchman was born on 13 March 1926 in Birmingham, his father Arthur (MSc Biochemistry, 1921) also a Birmingham graduate.

Trevor was educated at King Edwards School, Birmingham. He went into the Science 6^th form being influenced by Commander Langley, his chemistry master, who by coincidence had been Trevor’s father’s Commanding Officer in Naval research in WW1. Trevor’s sights had been set on Dartmouth and a career in the Navy.

Trevor won a state scholarship and moved onto Birmingham to read Metallurgy. There Professor Alan Cottrell (later Sir Alan) became his mentor and friend. He was also one of Hugh’s (eldest son) Godfather. Trevor took a 1^st class Hons Degree, then a PhD and was Research Fellow at the University for 2 years.

In 1950 he married June (BSc Mathematics, 1948). He joined Associated Electrical Industries (AEI) Research laboratory at Aldermaston Court. The Research Director was Dr. Edward Alibone who encouraged and befriended his young protégé. There Trevor started to unravel the structures and mechanical properties of Titanium and Rhenium. He ‘grew’ the first titanium single crystals; the report and discussion of which became the first of his papers published by the Royal Society. Developmental work at Cambridge by a husband and wife team followed.

Sir Alan asked Trevor to be one of this interdisciplinary research team out of Harwell (solving the problems of radiation damage in steel vessels) to help prepare and design experiments he felt needed to be done and so Trevor was seconded to Harwell from AEI. After some exciting developments, the cause of the problems was identified and Sir Alan produced the theoretical reasoning behind the phenomena.

Trevor was invited to join the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) as Head of Materials Division of the newly proposed Berkley Nuclear laboratories in Gloucestershire. Their task was to make civil nuclear energy economic.

Trevor became the Director of new research facility Electricity Council Research Centre (ECRC), having the task of looking at the wider and wiser uses of electricity.

The privatisation of power generation and the distribution of electricity supply sounded the end of the visionary research centre in its original form. Yet by then Trevor had retired for a Consultancy role, having seen the Centre through 21+ years.

The move to ECRC meant a move to Wales for the family. Worship at St Asaph Cathedral became the centre of Trevor’s spiritual life and both June and Trevor were involved there. Trevor was a member of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales for 15 years.

He was tremendous support to June (who died in 2009) in her work in Guiding and the National Lottery Charities Board.

He was a generous and loving father, father-in-law, grandfather and great-grandfather and a generous supporter of the work of the Churches.

Died 6^th August 2014

He will be much missed.

Although born in England, Jim Gordon’s early years were spent in India, Burma and China where his father Captain Bryan Gordon (RIN) held a naval commission.   After prep school in England he joined King Williams College on the Isle of Man, and later graduated in Aeronautical Engineering at Loughborough College, Leicestershire in 1948.  He then joined AVRoe and worked in aerodynamic research in wind tunnels.  He contributed significantly to the design and development of the remarkable range of advanced aircraft that were emerging from the dynamic aircraft industry of the 1950s and 1960s. He later worked with Handley Page Ltd, Armstrong-Whitworth and Rolls Royce Derby.   

The government was reluctant to continue backing aircraft production in the mid 1960s as it was inherently costly. However, as aircraft production was fundamentally involved in pushing forward the frontiers of knowledge, this led to the collapse of the national aerospace industry.  Research teams were disbanded and many highly skilled engineers went overseas. However, Jim Gordon decided to re-direct his engineering skills into production engineering and joined the University of Birmingham in 1965. He completed a Master's Degree in Engineering Production and then joined the University’s lecturing staff. In 1975, he was awarded a PhD for his research into Project Management, which was emerging as an important production technique.  In 1976-77 he became Visiting Professor at the University of North Carolina at Raleigh and subsequently lectured throughout the USA. Later he served as External Examiner at University of Cranfield (1994-98) and at University of Wales Aberystwyth (1999-2003).

Alongside his responsibilities as Director of Postgraduate Courses in the Department for Engineering Production at the University of Birmingham, Jim Gordon served with BSI (British Standards Institution). Here he helped to set up, and chaired, the BSI Committee on Project Management MS/2, responsible for the Standard BS 6079-1, 2, 3.  Following the success of this initiative, he was invited to join the ISO (International Organisation for Standardization). He became Convenor of the ISO/TC 176/SC2 Working Group, charged with producing an International Standard Guideline to Quality in Project Management.  This was published in 1997 as the Standard ISO 10006; revised and retitled Quality Management in Projects, published in 2003.  In recognition of his international contribution to standards in Project Management he was invited to be the Principal Guest Speaker at the ProMAC Conference in 2010, in Tokyo.

A long-term collaborative association with Professor Keith Lockyer of Bradford University lead to the publication of Critical Path Analysis and Project Management and Project Network Techniques. This work is now in its seventh edition and has been translated into Russian and Japanese. This classic text is recognised internationally as covering, with great clarity, the concepts and principles of project management, together with a range of detailed planning techniques.  

Jim Gordon was one of a small group of six professionals involved in the emerging technique of Project Management. In 1972, the group decided there was a need to set up an Association for Project Management, to share and develop skills amongst practitioners.  It is now recognised as an accredited force in the world of project management with an individual membership of over 20,000 and corporate membership of over 500.  Jim Gordon was a pivotal member of APM and was actively involved with the Board of Management until 2003.  

Dr James Hugh Gordon was one of a rather rare genus of natural engineers.  In lecturing to his students he would summarise the life of an engineer as basically ‘problem solving’ by employing thought to devise and apply practical solutions.  Away from the academic world, boardrooms and international conferences, he liked nothing better than being in his workshop, operating a lathe and “making things”.  Always a car enthusiast, he re-built several classic models which he enjoyed driving until recently.

Brian founded, and was Principal Conductor of, the Opera da Camera and the Orchestra da Camera in Birmingham, and was Music Director of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon (1960-63).

He was Music Director of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (1964-68), Music Director of the Handel Society of New York (1966-70), Resident Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (1968-70), Music Director of the Denver Symphony Orchestra (1970-78), Principle Conductor of the New Zealand National Orchestra (1973-76), Music Director of the Florida Philharmonic (1977-1980), Principal Conductor of the Cape Town Symphony (1980-86), and Principal Guest Conductor of the Malmo Symphony Orchestra (1988-90).

He founded the New York Handel Opera Society and appeared frequently at the Mostly Mozart concerts there, as well as the Aspen Music Festival and the Grant Park, Chicago, Festival.

Brian was Dean of the Faculty of Music and Professor at the University of Cape Town (1980-86) and Artist-in-Residence at the University of Kansas (1992-2002) and, for three years, was Music Director of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada (1967-69).

Priestman has written articles in music periodicals and encyclopaedias, including the New Grove Encyclopaedia, Musik in Geschichte und Gegenwart, Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Music and Letters. He lived in France.

 BSc Bacteriology 1953; PhD Bacteriology 1956; DSc Medical Microbiology 1966

Dr Phyllis Pease devoted most of her working life to research in the Department of Medical Microbiology. Arriving in Birmingham as an eager undergraduate, she retired as senior lecturer, having published and contributed to over 70 papers on bacteriology and published her first book 'L-Forms, Episomes and Autoimmune Disease' (1965).

In 1993 she took semi-retirement and ventured from her beloved Birmingham to the foothills of the French Pyrenees. She continued her work in microbiology, forming new collaborations with colleagues at the University of Toulouse and the Pasteur Institute in Paris. Alongside her consultancy work, she collected her life's work on auto-immune disease in her last book 'Aids, Cancer and Arthritis - a New Perspective' (2006).

Phyllis never lost her love of show horses, and her prize-winning Haflinger, Inca, moved to France with her. She settled in well abroad, making many new friends and riding at the local stables, but as a microbiologist, she never quite reconciled with the local standards of bathroom hygiene. She also kept a jar of English mint sauce in her handbag, having been unable to persuade the local restaurateur that this was a suitable accompaniment to French lamb!

Following her partner's death in 2008 she found life on her own increasingly difficult, and after a brief attempt to settle back in England, she settled in a very nice French retirement home with stunning views of the mountains. She passed away quietly, having asked the nurse to bring her the morning papers; an academic to the last.

She is survived by her niece and family, and by her partner's children. Her ashes will be scattered at a private ceremony in the family graveyard in Nottingham.

BSc Chemistry 1952, PhD Physics 1956

Ken Stephens joined the Department of Electrical and Control Engineering of Battersea College of Technology (CAT) as a lecturer only months before it became the University of Surrey. Ken spent the rest of his career at the University of Surrey, becoming dean of the Faculty of Engineering, a post that he held for 10 years before retiring in 1996.

He was very successful in these roles and led the department and faculty over a period of significant growth whereby engineering became a major strength of the university. It was his leadership and vision that established the department as a major strength both within the University and nationally, with major research strengths in ion implantation and satellite engineering.

Ken graduated from the University of Birmingham with a BSc in physics and a PhD in nuclear physics. He then spent several years in industry. He worked on various aspects of the design and instrumentation of reactors, initially working for Associated Electrical Industries and then for Pye Labs in Cambridge. He recruited to a lectureship at Battersea CAT in 1966 by Prof D R Chick, and a year later he was promoted to a readership, recognising his scientific excellence.

He established the Surrey University Ion Implantation Centre, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) from 1971 to the present. This research centre has developed an excellent international reputation. A number of key international scientists collaborated with Ken and his colleagues through the centre, including Professors Brian Sealy and Peter Hemment. Ken was a key member of various international conference committees, including the International Committee of Ion Implantation Technology since 1978.

After an initial visit to the US, Ken visited Japan with professors Chick and Lovering, which resulted in Hideki Matsumura, now an eminent professor, coming to Surrey. He became a close collaborator and lifelong friend, as did many other colleagues from Japan. Ken also visited China and Eastern Europe, funded by the British Council, forging professional links with many other institutions that still continue today.

He was a frequent visitor to colleagues in the US, China, Japan and Europe. His leadership of the department and the Ion Beam Centre has established the University of Surrey as the UK centre and a major international centre for ion implantation and its applications.

The centre has developed a number of applications involving electronic and optical devices, archaeology and biomedicine in collaboration with key industrial and academic research laboratories. The laboratory was named the Ken Stephens Laboratory, in recognition of Ken's contributions to the development of ion implantation and the leadership of the department.

Arising out of Ken's research excellence, he was a member of a number of SERC committees, including the Engineering and Nuclear Structure Board and the Alvey Committee for Very Large Scale Integration. He was also a keen and active member of the Institute of Physics, being chairman of the Atomic Collisions Group.

Under his leadership, the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering significantly increased the number of taught students and widened its research activities. Of particular note is his recognition of the importance of satellite engineering and the vision of Martin Sweeting for the development of low-cost satellite technology. Ken was appointed one of the first directors of Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd, the spin-out company of the department that has built, launched and controlled satellites for a number of international organisations. This activity has become a major asset for the university and has contributed significantly to the international reputation of the university.

As a result of Ken's vision and leadership, the department developed into one of the top departments in the country, with excellent Research Assessment Exercise ratings. Ken's achievements laid the foundation for the recent award of a Regius Professorship in Electronic Engineering to Surrey by Her Majesty the Queen. This is the first ever Regius Chair in Electronic Engineering in the country. He continued his association with the university after his retirement as dean, engaging in consultancy work including monitoring probationary lecturers.

Ken contributed to the local community as a governor of the Royal Grammar School, Guildford, in 1977. He became chairman of the Academic Committee before becoming chairman of governors until he retired from the Board of Governors in 2004, having served in that capacity for eight years. His contributions to the curriculum were recognised, especially the introduction of electronics and technology. He led the continued development of the school in this increasingly competitive world.

Ken was a very sociable person who was well known for his election night parties. He felt that all staff were important and he was very keen for tutors to the undergraduate students to know their students well, and supported staff student social events. Cricket was one of his passions. He was a keen cricket player and a member of the renowned MCC for more than 20 years, a keen and active member of Blackheath Cricket Club since 1970, and was captain of the University of Surrey Cricket Club in the 1970s.

Ken was a very popular member of staff and somebody who would always see the best in people and be keen to support staff in the development of their research and their careers.

He is sorely missed by his family, friends in Guildford, the University of surrey and the international ion implantation community. He is survived by a son and daughter and by his widow Carolynn.

Remembered by Prof Bernard L Weiss (Emeritus Professor Electronics at the University of Sussex)

3 May 1931 - 26 June 2013

Elfriede Therese Dubois (BA French, 1943) died on 24 October 2013, at the age of 97. 

She first studied at the University of Birmingham from 1941 to 1943, graduating in 1943 in the Honours School of French with a first class degree. Her maiden name was Pichler.

She was subsequently awarded an MA in 1945 for her thesis on Leon Bloy. She shared the Constance Naden Medal prize for the best M.A. of the year. 

Elfiede came to Birmingham thanks to a group of Quakers who pooled money, in order to pay for all the costs for my mother attending university. Furthermore she was a Jewish refugee from Vienna, who came to the UK in 1939. She had been expelled from Vienna University in 1938, because she was Jewish, having completed three years of a four-year degree in French and Classics. Her tutor was Miss Jane Milne, who became a lifelong friend and an inspiration as a teacher. She lived at Woodbrooke in her first year and received much help from the Quakers throughout, including lodgings during the holidays and opportunities for holiday work. 

Elfriede went on to teach at Newcastle University from 1948 to 1978, being awarded a personal readership in 1973. She mainly taught and researched in 17th century French literature, though she also worked on 19th and 20th French literature.

She completed her degree in Vienna in 1952. She was awarded a doctorate from the University of Paris in 1970. 

Elfriede last visited Birmingham University for the Alumni Reunion of the French Department on 6 May 2000.

My mother remained deeply grateful throughout her life for the opportunity that Birmingham University gave her to resume her student studies and allow her to subsequently work as university teacher, which she greatly cherished.

Dominique (her son)

(BSc Chemistry 1956, PhD 1959)

Edward "Ted" Harry Wiseman, 78, died peacefully on 13 September 2013, at Crescent Point, Niantic.

Ted was born 14 November 1934, and married Jean Pigott on 10 August 1957 in Portsmouth England. After graduating from the University of Birmingham with his PhD in organic chemistry, he spent a year at Ohio State University. Ted joined Pfizer Central Research in Groton in 1961 and retired in 1998.

At Pfizer his career started as a chemist and then moved into biochemistry, then pharmacology. He later became director of pharmacology and then participated in merging all the Pfizer research sites in Sandwich, UK, Amboise, France, and Nagoya, Japan. Ted and his team of researchers discovered and developed Feldene, Pfizer's first billion dollar product.

He became executive director and was responsible for enlarging the Groton campus and providing security and fire services, health services, and providing construction and maintenance of some one million square feet of new laboratories and support elements.

After retiring in 1998, Ted spent four years as a consultant for Pfizer. Once his consultant days were over, he spent the majority of his time with Jean traveling, spending time with family, collecting stamps and gardening.

Ted in his early days enjoyed playing soccer and refereeing. For 10 years, he was in a barbershop chorus and sang most of the comic baritone roles in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas with the East Lyme Arts Council.

Ted is survived by his wife, Jean; and four sons, Karl Wiseman and wife, Mitzi, of Houston, Texas, Paul Wiseman and wife, Tracy, Neil Wiseman and wife, Debbie, and David Wiseman and wife, Kari, all of Waterford.

"Papa" as his grandchildren called him, loved spending time with Jordan, Taylor; Victoria, Jake; Taylor, Ryan, Derek, Nicola; Adyson and Brady.

There will be a "Celebration of Life" held from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, at St. John's Episcopal Church, 400 Main St., Niantic.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following organizations:Alzheimer's Association CT Chapter, 2075 Silas Deane Hwy., Rocky Hill, CT 06067, Vitas Hospice Services, 628 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury, CT.

(BA, French Language & Literature, 1947)

She was incredibly proud of her time at the University of Birmingham and continued to enjoy receiving updates from the University over the years.

(BSc Chemistry, 1956; PhD Chemistry, 1959;  DSc Honorary Degree, 1995)

Sir Kenneth Murray was one of the most prominent scientists in the United Kingdom, a pioneer in scientific innovation. His contribution to science has and continues to save many lives worldwide, having developed the first vaccine against viral hepatitis B.
Ken was born in Yorkshire 30 December 1930, bought up in the West Midlands by his father a miner turned school caretaker. Leaving school at 16 to become a laboratory technician, he then studied part-time gaining a first class chemistry degree from the University of Birmingham, going onto further study, obtaining a PhD in microbiology in ().

It was in Birmingham where he met wife Noreen Parker, then studying a PhD in Microbial Genetics, they married in 1958. Kenneth and Noreen would go on to be close scientific collaborators. Noreen passed away in 2011.

Ken returned to the UK in 1964 after researching at Stanford University, America. He worked at the Medical Research Council laboratory of molecular biology until 1967 when he joined the University of Edinburgh in what was the only department of molecular biology in the country. He and his colleagues went on to make the University a world leader in Molecular biology. Ken was head of biology in Edinburgh from 1976-1984 and Biogen Professor of Molecular Biology from 1984 to his retirement in 1988.

It was in 1978 that Ken and colleagues created the vaccine that was effective in treating hepatitis.

Ken’s scientific interests lay in methods for sequencing, or deciphering, strands of DNA code. He developed methods based on new ideas, to isolate specific genes, and so began genetic engineering.

Along with colleagues, he developed recombinant DNA technology, or gene cloning. This represented a revolution for scientists in terms of understanding how cells work, how genetics work and how the development of organisms is controlled and how it can go wrong.

Ken used these ideas as he looked create a vaccine for the liver disease, hepatitis B. He found a way to identify the hepatitis B virus and then produced a man-made vaccine. With genetic engineering being a completely new technology, much of the research was done under secure conditions. 

Soon after he was involved in the establishment of Biogen, which commercially developed the vaccine for use. The vaccine is now used around the world.

Murray used income from the commercialisation of the vaccine to found the Darwin Trust in 1983. The trust has supported the education of many young scientists, and helped to fund research and improved facilities at the University of Edinburgh. Following his retirement Murray dedicated himself increasingly to the trust’s efforts.

He was knighted in 1993.

More recently the Noreen and Kenneth Murray Library was built at the King’s Buildings Science Campus at the University of Edinburgh, recognising the couple’s distinguished careers and their commitment to the advancement of science and engineering.

I first met Malcolm (MBChB, 1945) in a small group of Freshmen outside the Great Hall of the University of Birmingham. Within moments I noticed his steady gaze and quiet demeanour, we talked a little. Later at the medical School, we shared confidences about school and home life. I was sure I had found a new friend. Malcolm went on to complete his qualification.  M.B.ChB., in 1945 and later M.R.C.S., F.R.C.P. He was appointed as house surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (B'ham) and thence to Kidderminster in February 1946. Soon Malcolm was called into the Army to serve his period of National Service. Army life completed he joined Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham. Further studies rewarded him with F.R.C.S. in 1952. Malcolm became first assistant to the Professor of E.N.T. Studies, University of London 1953-'55 and, later appointed Consultant Surgeon to Dudley Road Group of Hospitals, Birmingham. At about this time Malcolm identified opportunities for advancement in the United States. He was offered and accepted a position at Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Missouri in 1965 as assistant Professor. In July 1972 he was appointed Professor. Malcolm's bright and questioning mind took him deeply into the field of Otolaryngology, now supported by facilities which a few years ago were just a dream. With the feasibility of improved treatment in a number of procedures, Malcolm produced several papers which were published and benefitted the profession as a whole.

Malcolm's abiding concern was, will it work? His self effacing demeanour endeared him to all who knew him - a big ego had no place in his make up. He had a great sense of humour, it was just below the surface, one could generate a belly laugh at any time in his company. A friend I shall sorely miss, who's lost expertise will be felt both sides of the Atlantic.

Our deepest sympathy goes to Malcolm's lovely wife Barbara and their children Jane, Nigel and Honor. 

Peter Goodwin

David (BSc Minerals Engineering, 1981)  spent most of his career in South Africa with Anglo American Corporation, De Beers, Impala Platinum, Bateman and Hatch. David was a respected metallurgist and led numerous successful projects during his career. David was an outstanding sportsman and played cricket, soccer and rugby with great skill. David represented the University at rugby. He was also an avid Manchester City fan.

David is survived by his wife Bonny, his children Mel, Roxanne and Leane as well as his parents and family back in Manchester.

This obituary was provided by his former classmates from the School of Minerals Engineering in the memory of a great metallurgist, sportsman and friend.

Stanley Barton died quietly October 8, 2012 with his family by his side in Casa de la Luz Hospice, Tucson, Arizona after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.  A former long time resident of Westport, Stan was born in Halesowen, Worcestershire, England on December 30, 1927, son of the late Lazarus Barton and Alice Faulkner Barton.    He graduated from Halesowen Grammar School and the University of Birmingham with a PhD in Chemical Engineering.  He and his late wife, Marion, emigrated to Canada in 1953, where he worked for the Canadian Defense Establishment in Halifax, Nova Scotia developing coatings for Canadian Navy vessels.   After a move to Ottawa, Ontario, he was employed by Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Ohio, at their Miami Valley Laboratory as a food chemist. He completed his career with ITT and ITT Rayonier in the Natural Resources and Forest Products divisions, both in New York City and Stamford, CT.  He and his wife retired to Tucson, Arizona in 1991.

Stan’s passion was music, and he reassembled and installed a 1927 Wurlitzer pipe organ from the Ward Avenue Theater in the Bronx, NY, in his basement in Westport, entertaining family and friends over the years.   He was a former member of the Connecticut Valley Theater Organ Society. 

Stan is survived by his daughter and son-in-law of Middlebury, CT, Carolyn Barton Scholl and Robert P. Scholl, also former Westport residents, as well as his niece, Rita M. Harrold, of Wayne, New Jersey, and four step-grandchildren and their families.  He was predeceased by his wife of 56 years, Marion Brittain Barton, and their daughter, Andrea.

Laurence Keates, who was born in 1929, read Spanish at the University of Birmingham, from where he graduated in 1952, having obtained a Distinction for the spoken language element of his degree programme.  Whilst at Birmingham, he also took an optional course in Portuguese and, after graduation, left for Portugal where, for two years, he immersed himself in intensive study of the language and literature of that country.  Awarded a Portuguese government scholarship at the University of Lisbon during his second year, he also began work on an MA thesis on the major 16th-century Portuguese playwright and poet, Gil Vicente.  In 1955, he took up a post at Queen’s College, Guyana (at that time still known as British Guiana), where he taught French, Spanish and Portuguese to ‘A’ and ‘S’ level.  He remained at the College until 1958, becoming head of the Modern Languages Faculty in his final year.  During this period he also appeared regularly on Radio Demerara, the country’s oldest radio station, presenting talks and book reviews and chairing discussion groups for the British Council.

Returning to Lisbon, Laurence Keates spent two years as an English Assistant at the University.  He was awarded his MA by Birmingham in 1959.  He came to Leeds as Assistant Lecturer in 1961. He was promoted to Lecturer in the following year and to Senior Lecturer in 1972.   From the outset, Laurence Keates was prominently involved in enlarging the scope and reach of Portuguese studies within the University. One significant outcome was the introduction at the end of the 1960s of new two-subject degree schemes, combining Portuguese with one other subject. Hitherto, Portuguese had been offered as part of the BA in General Studies and as an ancillary subject.  The increasing popularity of Portuguese owed much to his character, temperament and enthusiasm.  Teaching in a very friendly and human way, he enthused his students – his Head of Department once wrote that students of Portuguese at Leeds radiated a real excitement about their subject.  He also regularly taught Spanish within the department.  The annual Portuguese Weeks which he organised throughout the 1970s and 1980s, and which included films, exhibitions and lectures, gave a wider audience an insight into the riches of Portuguese culture.  In very large measure as a result of his endeavours and achievements, Leeds became the largest and most active centre for Luso-Brazilian studies outside King’s College, London.  This status was borne out in the decision to make Leeds the venue for the second Congress of the International Association of Lusitanists in 1987.  Reflecting his international standing, Laurence Keates was a vice-president of the Association.

Laurence Keates published a number of articles on Portuguese literary figures and texts.  With financial support from the Portuguese Instituto de Alta Cultura, his MA thesis was published as The Court Theatre of Gil Vicentein 1962; later, he produced a Portuguese translation of this work: O teatro de Gil Vicente na Corte(1988).  He also wrote several articles, including the main article on ‘Portugal’, in the Cambridge Guide to World Theatre(1988).  His textbooks include a very well-received limited edition First Course in Portuguese. 

Laurence Keates was a remarkable educator who encouraged his students to think beyond set questions and investigate in detail the many different aspects of global Portuguese language and culture.  He was possessed of a dry, gentle wit and delivered anecdotes with a distinct twinkle in his eye and a quiet chuckle.  He was always available for consultation and willingly shared with his students his extraordinarily wide range of knowledge.

Although he retired from his University post in 1989, Laurence Keates continued regularly to attend and support departmental events in both Portuguese and Spanish for many years afterwards.

Laurence Keates is survived by his wife, Sita, daughters, Clare and Antonia, son, Gawain, and six grandchildren.  Another daughter, Berenice, died in 2001.

In 1942, when Peter (BSc Physics, 1944) a first year student of maths and physics, received his call-up papers he hoped to go into the RAF.  However, the interviewing officer remarked that he looked very young and sent him back to Birmingham.  He completed a wartime (two year) degree in 1943 and was directed, not into the armed forces, but to the Signals Research and Development Establishment in Christchurch.  He was still there in 1945 when he contracted polio and spent several months in hospital.  Left with a weakened leg but otherwise reasonably fit, he was eventually able to return to Birmingham to complete his honours degree in 1948.

Accepted on a graduate scheme by Standard Telephones and Cables (later Nortel), he remained with them until retirement in 1985.  In 1968 a device he and a colleague had developed won for the firm a Queen's Award for technological innovation.  He earned the respect of his colleagues for his expertise, quite hard work, encouragement of juniors and, when necessary, plain speaking.

Outside work his activities included politics, gardening and bee keeping.  After retirement he added other hobbies including amateur radio, astronomy and computers, together with his lifelong interest in music and reading - usually science fiction.

In 1996 he began to suffer the late effects of polio (PPS, or post polio syndrome), bringing increased muscle weakness.  He took to a mobility scooter, and remained cheerful and occupied.  He suffered a stroke earlier this year, and gradually declined over the next few weeks.

(BA, History, 1942; Dip, Education, 1943)

Myrtle Leggett lived as a child in Portsmouth. She did very well at school, going to the local grammar school in Portsmouth.

Despite her good academic success, it was never good enough for her Mother who wanted her to be better, even though her own academic achievements were not great. Myrtle enjoyed some sports, tennis, netball and long jump, where she became Portsmouth junior champion. She hated cricket!

She went to the University of Birmingham during the war on a part scholarship to read history and it was here she blossomed and made more life long friends. Doris Rolley, of the same vintage is the only one left of this close knit friendship.

Despite the difficulties that the war caused it was said that the exam results were among the best achieved. Myrtle was told by her History tutor that she should have got a first had she worked a little harder, to which she replied “but I had fun!”

She told the story that most nights they had to sleep in air raid shelters. The German bombing was particularly heavy one night and she and her friends nervously chattered. A voice was heard above the bombing from a man “I say you girls could you keep the noise down some of us are trying to sleep!”

She attempted to be part of a fire watch team and the fireman laughed as the girls tried to control a hose.

She represented her university at netball and after gaining her degree stayed a further one year to train as a teacher.

During this time she became engaged to one of the boys at University.

She started a teaching job in Crewe and in 1946 she went home for half term and to bury her beloved Grandmother and was expecting a miserable time. Here she met Teddy. They had a whirlwind romance (she had broken off her previous engagement) and married in May 46. Teddy was economical with the truth about his work and his family, and Myrtle said if I had met your family first I would never have married you! To which he replied I know that’s why we got married so quickly!

Teddy had a career in the diplomatic service and they were posted to Bucharest, then Klagenfurt where her daughter, Anne Louise was born in 1951, her son Christopher was born in 55 with her returning to Portsmouth to have him, then returning to Klagenfurt. Later they were posted to Munich. Along with spells back in the Uk, they were in Berlin during the wall going up. Christopher as a very young boy thought it was great with all the tank movements going on. Myrtle had at last bought a Bendix washing machine which was huge. They wanted to evacuate all, but my she refused to leave her washing machine. The army typically suggested giving her a pram to wheel it! It must have weighed 150 lbs!

The family then went to Kuwait which Myrtle called “a living hell” it was very restrictive for women, but fortunately Myrtle made great friends with the ambassador’s wife and so kept busy.

They returned to Caterham in 1966 and moved from a bungalow in Elgin Crescent to Whyteleafe Road. Unfortunately her husband became ill with cancer and died in 1970.

After the service the family followed the hearse to the burial site. The hearse speed up and it became a Benny Hill type moment with them trotting behind! Myrtle commented that we should win a medal which lightened the occasion for us, especially for her son, a bewildered 15-year old.

At the time of her husband’s death she was working part time at Whyteleafe School, but needed a full time job, as her husband said he would never leave her a wealthy widow, which was true! She gained a full time job at Wallington High school for girls and eventually became Head of History.

Here she again made lifetime friends who have commented how she told lively stories always with humour but never malicious. In fact a colleague teacher Pauline recounts the story of Myrtle and her in the garden while her husband Roger was gardening with his shirt off. Myrtle quickly commented “A Poor woman’s Chippendale” She loved her time at Wallington particularly teaching the 6th formers. She went on many trips with them always protecting and demanding high standards from “My girls”.

After she retired, former pupils would often meet her in the street and tell her how much her positive influence helped them in their future lives. This brought great comfort to her. She also was active in the school theatre performing soliloquies. She went on to volunteer for Save the Children and the Miller centre, knitted numerous squares to make blankets and enjoyed helping the community.

She was a most generous and kind woman who did not have a mean bone in her body. She was very intelligent, a Mensa member (score 155), but never belittled people with less. All that encountered her had their lives enriched by her compassion and ready wit. She was once asked many years ago why was it that men as they got older became bad tempered and crotchety. She replied “That’s because they were like it when they were younger!”

She looked after both her Mother and Mother in law, travelling often to see them, but never complained about these extra demands on her time. She helped with all her grand children enriching all their lives.

Her son moved to Phoenix Arizona in 2009. For the remainder of the time she spent as much of her life with them, making 9 trips, only inhibited with the short length of medical cover she could acquire for each trip.

She formed a very close 7-year relationship with Amy, Christopher’s American wife. She loved Arizona and the climate and would sit in the garden and comment on the blue sky, with not a cloud in the sky. She would recite a poem (that we are so grateful for Doris Rolley her university friend, for being a non computer search engine to tell us where to find it.)

It is by Robert Southey and called After Blenheim.

Here is the first verse.

It was a summer evening
Old Kasper’s work was done
And before his cottage door,
Was sitting in the sun
And by him sported on the Green,
His little grandchild Wilhemine.

She would then say that’s the only time she had heard that name.

At the time she left Birmingham she had been asked to study further but she declined as it would have put too much of a financial burden on her parents. Just as well, as Myrtle had a very interesting and varied life. She lived in various European countries during the height of the “Cold War” and was often left alone for periods with her children.

She was resilient and resourceful and sited that her time at Birmingham during the war years formed the corner stone for her life both academically and socially. It was in fact the springboard for her fulfilled life and the hardships suffered during the war years, rather than make her bitter, lead to being a true humanitarian, passing on her values as a parent, a well loved teacher and a true friend to many.

Christopher Matthews (son) 25th November 2011