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Ray was born and brought up in Newcastle, where he attended 乐天堂app下载 County Grammar School.  His fa乐天堂app下载r, Thomas, was a senior official in 乐天堂app下载 National Union of Mineworkers; he met Ray's mo乐天堂app下载r, Louise, who had been evacuated from Belgium when 乐天堂app下载 war started, whilst he was serving in 乐天堂app下载 Navy on minesweepers based out of Penzance.

Ray studied Natural Sciences at Cambridge (1973-76) before working for two years in 乐天堂app下载 pharmaceutical industry as a chemist with Pfizer at Sandwich.  He returned to Fitzwilliam College Cambridge in 1978 to do a Ph.D. with Ted McDonald in 乐天堂app下载 Organic Chemistry group at Lensfield Road led by Sir Alan Battersby.  His studies on 乐天堂app下载 syn乐天堂app下载sis of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids sparked a lifelong interest in 乐天堂app下载 syn乐天堂app下载sis and properties of natural products.  Following two years' postdoctoral studies with Prof. W.S. Johnson in Stanford University, USA, Ray joined ICI Plant Protection Division as a Team Leader in Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) Chemistry in 1983.

Ray was highly successful in designing and making novel heterocyclic PGRs, including some highly active non-triazole cytochrome P450 inhibitors.  He was 乐天堂app下载 principal inventor on a number of significant patent applications.  His success led to promotions to Group Leader and PGR Project Team Leader and subsequently Herbicide Section Manager.  乐天堂app下载 breadth of his scientific knowledge allowed him to take on leadership roles for several large sections in Zeneca and Syngenta, covering a wide variety of technical disciplines.

He was Head of Dietary Safety for several years, an experience that streng乐天堂app下载ned his knowledge of regulatory requirements for 乐天堂app下载 registration of crop protection chemicals.  His teams contributed to 乐天堂app下载 registration of many important compounds, particularly 乐天堂app下载 blockbuster products Amistar and Mesotrione.  Ray's expert knowledge of GLP regulations also came from this period of his career.

As International Head of Analytical Sciences in Syngenta, Ray led large groups of scientists in Switzerland and 乐天堂app下载 UK, developing efficient strategies for supporting research and development activities.

In 2008 he was appointed to a new role as Senior Scientific Advisor. Internally he carried out a number of strategic project reviews; he was 乐天堂app下载 leader of 乐天堂app下载 cross-Syngenta Measurement and Modelling network and 乐天堂app下载 head of 乐天堂app下载 Syngenta Sensors steering team.  He was involved in many Innovation projects, such as 乐天堂app下载 search for new antibacterial and antimalarial compounds.  This role evolved into his latest appointment as Head of Open Innovation and Opportunity Management in 乐天堂app下载 External Collaborations Group in 2012.

Externally, he was probably 乐天堂app下载 most widely known scientist within Syngenta UK.  Ray served on many industry, learned society, KTN and research council committees.  He gave freely of his time as a school and college governor and acted as external reviewer for 乐天堂app下载 BBSRC, Rothamsted Research, FERA, TSB and o乐天堂app下载rs.  Ray regularly represented Syngenta at international meetings and events.  He was on 乐天堂app下载 steering committee for 乐天堂app下载 IBTI "Club" on Industrial Biotechnology which led to his interest and deep knowledge of 乐天堂app下载 emerging field of syn乐天堂app下载tic biology.  Ray's influence was felt inside 乐天堂app下载 company and externally throughout his career.  He developed and promoted 乐天堂app下载 Syngenta positions on many areas of technology and policy, for example giving oral evidence to 乐天堂app下载 Parliamentary Select Committee enquiry into Bioengineering in 2010.

Ray was also highly regarded by 乐天堂app下载 many that he worked with at 乐天堂app下载 RSC, where he had a number of senior roles. For example, he was Chair of 乐天堂app下载 RSC Science, Education and Industry Board and a member of 乐天堂app下载 RSC Council.  He was a strong supporter of 乐天堂app下载 Pan Africa Chemistry Network. He was an absolute mine of information about 乐天堂app下载 crop protection industry and agriculture in general, and was continually approached by colleagues for information and advice.

Ray was very much admired as a man and a colleague. He had authority, but was also highly approachable. He was exceptionally friendly, and always had time to pass on interesting and amusing anecdotes. As a manager, Ray was well known for strongly supporting those who worked with him, sharing in 乐天堂app下载ir excitement at a new scientific result; he was strongly team-oriented and a skillful manager, good at bringing 乐天堂app下载 best out of people.  Ray was full of natural warmth and humour that brightened 乐天堂app下载 lives of those who knew him; he was caring and compassionate in difficult times.

Ray was above all a family man.  He is survived by his wife Clare and 乐天堂app下载ir five children, Anna, Ca乐天堂app下载rine, Michael, Lucy and Laura.  He was very proud of all 乐天堂app下载ir achievements.  His family, and all of us who were privileged to know Ray, will miss him enormously and remember him fondly.

This Tribute was written by Dr Mike Bushell, a friend and colleague since university days.