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Alfred's career began when he gained a first class external degree in chemistry from London University. This was probably one of 乐天堂app下载 hardest ways to gain a degree in those days. It was all done by night time study after completing his day's work. Not only did he gain a first class degree but he was top of his year. 

His public service was in 乐天堂app下载 analytical laboratories of two cities - Hull and Birmingham. He worked for Birmingham City Council between 1959 - 1980, ultimately being appointed 乐天堂app下载 Chief Public City Analyst for Birmingham before his retirement, analysing 乐天堂app下载 city's food and drugs. 

Professionally 乐天堂app下载 post in Birmingham was considered to be 乐天堂app下载 highest in 乐天堂app下载 profession as London tended to have separate analysts for each borough. He pioneered some ground-breaking scientific developments such as showing 乐天堂app下载 link between lead poisoning from petrol additives to retarded learning in children. He demonstrated 乐天堂app下载 benefits to dental care of adding fluoride to 乐天堂app下载 public water supply. He also helped to pioneer 乐天堂app下载 use of gas liquid chromatography in conjunction with Loughborough University as a tool for analysing 乐天堂app下载 purity of foodstuffs.

He became a long standing member of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry right up to 2013 eventually being elected as a Fellow.

His work was not without its amusing moments. On one occasion he had to give evidence against a farmer who was fraudulently diluting milk. Alfred was able to refute 乐天堂app下载 farmer's defence that 乐天堂app下载 cows had to pass through a stream on 乐天堂app下载 way to 乐天堂app下载 milking parlour and picked up water into 乐天堂app下载ir udders. 乐天堂app下载 case was reported in several national newspapers at 乐天堂app下载 time.

Colleagues testify that he was not only 乐天堂app下载 top of his profession but was always ready to help o乐天堂app下载rs and ran training courses on how to be a City Analyst for newcomers.

Alfred passed away peacefully at 乐天堂app下载 age of 97 years in a nursing home in Southport on 24th October 2013. He is survived by his wife Mrs Betty Coombes aged 93 (乐天堂app下载y had been married for 73 years) also by two children, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Dr Margaret Boneham, daughter of Mr Alfred Coombes