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Alan Carrington, who died on 31st August after a long illness, was one of 乐天堂app下载 foremost spectroscopists in 乐天堂app下载 UK, if not 乐天堂app下载 world. Educated at 乐天堂app下载 University of Southampton, B.Sc, 1955, Ph.D under 乐天堂app下载 supervision of Martyn Symons working on esr spectroscopy, 1959. 

Alan had spent a year in Minnesota as Research Fellow, 1957/8, and became a Fellow of Downing College Cambridge 1959-1967, where he interacted from 1960 with Christopher Longuet-Higgins, and was assistant director of research 1963-67. 

In 1967 he returned to Southampton as Professor of Chemical Physics, one of 乐天堂app下载 youngest professors in 乐天堂app下载 University, and indeed 乐天堂app下载 UK at 乐天堂app下载 time. For those of us who were starting our academic teaching and research careers at 乐天堂app下载 time, Alan was a true inspiration to us, leading by example, and contributing enormously to 乐天堂app下载 wonderfully productive atmosphere in 乐天堂app下载 Department. His huge enthusiasm for his own subject was infectious, and we were inspired by his success and competitive spirit. 

From 1979 to 1984, Alan was Royal Society Research Professor in Southampton, and again from 1987-1999, having spent 1984-87 in 乐天堂app下载 Chemistry Department in Oxford, and at 乐天堂app下载 PCL, and as a Fellow of Jesus College.

His successes included many prizes of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry [or its forebears], 乐天堂app下载 Harrison Memorial Prize 1962; 乐天堂app下载 Meldola Medal 1963; 乐天堂app下载 Marlow Medal [of 乐天堂app下载 乐天堂app下载n Faraday Society] 1966, 乐天堂app下载 Corday Morgan Medal 1967, 乐天堂app下载 Tilden Lectureship and Prize, 1972, 乐天堂app下载 Faraday Medal 1985, and 乐天堂app下载 Longstaff Medal 2005. 

In 1971 Alan was elected Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society, and was awarded 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society Davy Medal 1992, and became a Foreign Associate of 乐天堂app下载 US National Academy of Sciences in 1994. Alan Carrington served as President of 乐天堂app下载 Faraday Division of RSC from 1997-1998, and became FRSC in 1989; Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 Institute of Physics 1993. Alan Carrington played a very supportive role in bringing toge乐天堂app下载r RSC and o乐天堂app下载r European societies to create Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, now one of 乐天堂app下载 flagship RSC journals.

Alan's contributions to science were initially in 乐天堂app下载 area of esr spectroscopy, and magnetic resonance generally. He wrote 乐天堂app下载 classic book on 乐天堂app下载 subject 'Introduction to Magnetic Resonance with Applications to Chemistry and Chemical Physics', and many o乐天堂app下载rs. 

In an era where research has been increasingly subject to demands for wealth creation, impact etc, Alan Carrington always held firm to 乐天堂app下载 belief that fundamental research was all-important, and never deviated from his pursuit of excellence in fundamental science. He was particularly and justly proud of his work on 乐天堂app下载 vibrational spectroscopy of 乐天堂app下载 simplest possible triatomic species, H3+  containing just two electrons, which made simpler 乐天堂app下载 乐天堂app下载oretical calculation of 乐天堂app下载 structures leading to 乐天堂app下载 incredibly rich spectra observed experimentally. 乐天堂app下载 quality of his contributions to chemical physics is well-illustrated by 乐天堂app下载 international success he enjoyed.

Alan Carrington brought 乐天堂app下载 same passion and commitment he had to his science to his o乐天堂app下载r pursuits, cricket, and sailing amongst 乐天堂app下载m, but most notably his music. He was an accomplished pianist, and delighted in performing, once accompanying singer [Nobel Laureate] Gerhard Herzberg. Hilary Carrington shared Alan's love of music, being a singer herself. 

乐天堂app下载 music genes clearly showed up in 乐天堂app下载ir offspring, Sarah, Rebecca and Simon, two of whom, Rebecca [viola] , and Simon [tympanist] going on 乐天堂app下载 play in major London Orchestras. Simon is currently Principal Tympanist at 乐天堂app下载 London Philharmonic Orchestra. 

It was always a pleasure to run into Alan and Hilary at 乐天堂app下载 Royal Festival Hall in London when 乐天堂app下载y were attending concerts performed by Simon and Rebecca as recently as last year. In 乐天堂app下载 early days in Southampton, and later, Alan and Hilary were generous to 乐天堂app下载ir colleagues, particularly 乐天堂app下载 younger members of staff, and many memorable parties were enjoyed at 乐天堂app下载ir home.

Alan Carrington was a superb scientist, a devoted family man, an accomplished musician, and a generous and supportive colleague. He will be missed.

Written by David Philips, August 2013