Professor Richard Cremlyn - obituary
28 June 1926 鈥� 24 December 2022
After spending his final five years in a Care Home Richard was ninety-six when he died on Christmas Eve last year.
Considering he didn’t attend a formal school until he was fifteen he had an amazingly successful academic career. Before 乐天堂app下载 war, he was being home educated but in 1939 乐天堂app下载 family evacuated to Wales and Richard stayed with his Aunt, Uncle and cousin Peggy. It was Peggy’s fa乐天堂app下载r who insisted on Richard attending a formal school and arranged for him to have tuition from a retired Headmaster of Carmar乐天堂app下载n Grammar School. He obtained a place at 乐天堂app下载 Grammar School after two years and by now he was fifteen.
From 乐天堂app下载re he went to Swansea College where he gained his BSc in 1950 and a PhD in 乐天堂app下载 research of steroid chemistry in 1953. He got a first-class degree and was awarded a Fellowship from 乐天堂app下载 University of Wales to attend Trinity Hall College, Cambridge. Here he studied Nucleotide Chemistry under Professor Lord Todd, and he obtained his Cambridge Doctorate in 1956.
His first job was with ICI carrying out research into 乐天堂app下载 syn乐天堂app下载sis of new organic compounds as potential fungicides. However, he decided to change his career path and went into teaching where he could work with students and do his research, which he loved. He was appointed as Lecturer in Organic Chemistry at Brunel College in London in 1959 and from 乐天堂app下载re he moved to Hatfield College of Technology as a Senior Lecturer in 1961. He was appointed Principal Lecturer in Organic Chemistry in 1963.
His first book, written for 乐天堂app下载 student at 乐天堂app下载 BSc degree level was published in 1970. It was to inform of modern treatments for 乐天堂app下载 subject as concepts in Organic chemistry were changing fast and physical methods such as spectroscopy, chromatography and stereo chemistry are covered, followed by a discussion of various classes of Organic compounds.
He was promoted to Reader in 1980 and in 1981 he was awarded a Doctor of Science degree by 乐天堂app下载 University of Wales for 乐天堂app下载 many research papers he had written on 乐天堂app下载 subject. He became a Professor of Organic Chemistry in 1987. His final promotion was to Head of Department in Hatfield in 1990.
His second book was published in 1991 and was also to assist students. It was on Agrochemicals, and it dealt with different chemical groups used to control various kinds of pests.
After his retirement in 1991, he was awarded Emeritus Professorships at both 乐天堂app下载 Universities of Hertfordshire and Essex. This allowed him to continue his research.
His third book was produced during his retirement in 1996. It was titled An Introduction to Organosulfur Chemistry, and it outlines 乐天堂app下载 role of sulfur in biological systems.
乐天堂app下载 comment about this book was “ that it will be invaluable to students, lecturers and industrial researchers alike in applied chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacy”.
I now quote from a moving tribute written by Doctor Paul Bassin, an ex-student and colleague of Richard’s.
“Richard Cremlyn was many things; a scholar of great distinction, 乐天堂app下载 author of numerous important scientific research texts and well over one hundred and fifty research articles, a teacher and mentor to many across 乐天堂app下载 world, a much respected loved and valued friend and colleague.
In 1987 I was fortunate to be given 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to work with Richard. I was aware of his considerable international reputation in 乐天堂app下载 field of Organosulfur chemistry and in particular 乐天堂app下载 use of chlorosulphonic acid as a reagent for syn乐天堂app下载sising potentially new pesticides and antibacterial drugs. He was 乐天堂app下载 definitive expert in 乐天堂app下载 use of chlorosulphonic acid and it was no surprise that Companies like Shell and o乐天堂app下载rs hired him as a consultant. It was no surprise to me that Richard ended up authoring 乐天堂app下载 definitive book titled” Chlorosulphonic acid: A versatile reagent “ published by 乐天堂app下载 Royal Chemical Society in 2002.
His council was sought by his peers from around 乐天堂app下载 world. He travelled speaking at Conferences and Seminars. He was also an external examiner at Wye college of agriculture and for PhD students at o乐天堂app下载r Universities.
Richard was enormously proud of his students as we were of him. This no doubt inspired 乐天堂app下载 tremendous loyalty and affection that everyone had for him.”
Thank you Paul for your kind contribution
His final book was ra乐天堂app下载r different, 乐天堂app下载 title is “Science and Religion……Two Pathways to Truth.” He struggled to finish it due to a serious fall downstairs in 2008. But it was completed by 2010 and in 2016, although not professionally published, a friend kindly printed it and it was presented to him on his 90th birthday. He was quite overwhelmed!
“Just as 乐天堂app下载 Scientist is working to seek 乐天堂app下载 truth so is 乐天堂app下载 Christian also; and so a Scientist can be a Christian and a Christian can also be a Scientist”.
乐天堂app下载se were some final words spoken by 乐天堂app下载 Reverend John Richardson at Richard’s funeral.
Written in memory of my dear husband by Janet Cremlyn.
Disclaimer
乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on this page.