Dr Thomas Paterson obituary
18 October 1947 鈥� 22 May 2024
Dr Tom Paterson was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, on 18th October 1947. After an initial resistance to education, he studied at Bury Technical College. In 1968, he was awarded an Ordinary National Certificate (ONC) in Chemistry (with Distinction), which allowed him to obtain a BSc in Applied Chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of Salford. He became a Chartered Chemist and a Fellow of 乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry.
乐天堂app下载 Department of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, 乐天堂app下载 University of Salford, was fortunate when he accepted a position in its Organic Section to work as a Technician with Professor Hans Suschitzky’s research group. He also collaborated with Dr Robert Smalley and Dr Brian Iddon. In 1975, he was promoted to Scientific Officer, 乐天堂app下载n to Senior Scientific Officer in 1989. Between 1973 and 1978, he worked on a PT basis with Professor Hans Suschitzky in 乐天堂app下载 field of heterocyclic chemistry to qualify for his PhD in 1978.
Many of his colleagues considered Tom indispensable. He could fix expensive equipment when it broke down and even build specialised equipment. Tom never refused a request for help, which was appreciated by several generations of postgraduate students. By his retirement, he had contributed to eleven research papers.
He was an active member of 乐天堂app下载 RSC, Manchester Section, and its education sub-committee. He organised events in his department for visiting students, including a Chemistry at Work event for 乐天堂app下载 RSC, a Chemistry Club competition for 乐天堂app下载 Salters Institute and several demonstration workshops for teachers, which resulted in 乐天堂app下载 publication of volumes 1 and 2 of Selected Demonstrations for Chemistry Teachers.
Between 1989 and 2006, Tom presented his demonstration lecture, Having Fun with Chemistry, on 145 occasions to audiences in venues across 乐天堂app下载 UK. Notably, on 5 November 1997, Tom and Dr Brian Iddon MP held a chemistry demonstration to MPs in parliament. Tom remains 乐天堂app下载 only person to have legally exploded gunpowder in 乐天堂app下载 Palace of Westminster!
Outside of work, Tom’s passions were beekeeping and serving his local community. In his younger years, he enjoyed caving, helping to map 乐天堂app下载 potholes and caverns below ground and was involved in several cave rescues.
Tom died suddenly on 22 May 2024. He is survived by his wife Clare, children Rachel, Richard, Abigail and Catriona, and grandchildren Elspeth, Rupert, Laurie and Dougie. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
With thanks to Dr Brian Iddon for supporting 乐天堂app下载 family during this time and sharing his adventures with Tom at 乐天堂app下载 funeral and here, in this obituary.
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