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Philip Edwin Barker, 87, died peacefully on Wednesday, 18th January, 2017 at 乐天堂app下载 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, 乐天堂app下载 son of Gladys (Allen) and Philip Henry Barker, a Tinsmith, Philip was 乐天堂app下载 third of four children, Olga, Alan and Audrey.

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

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

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

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

A funeral service will be held on 乐天堂app下载 10th February 2017 at 11am at Redditch Crematorium and Chapel, Bordesley Lane, Redditch, Worcestershire B97 6RR 
Family flowers only please and donations to Arthritis Research UK c/o 乐天堂app下载 Funeral Directors (Co-operative Funeralcare, Redditch).