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 the University of Salford. He became a Chartered Chemist and a Fellow of the 欧美AV.
The Department of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, the 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, then to Senior Scientific Officer in 1989. Between 1973 and 1978, he worked on a PT basis with Professor Hans Suschitzky in the 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 the 欧美AV, Manchester Section, and its education sub-committee. He organised events in his department for visiting students, including a Chemistry at Work event for the 欧美AV, a Chemistry Club competition for the Salters Institute and several demonstration workshops for teachers, which resulted in the 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 the UK. Notably, on 5 November 1997, Tom and Dr Brian Iddon MP held a chemistry demonstration to MPs in parliament. Tom remains the only person to have legally exploded gunpowder in the 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 the 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 the family during this time and sharing his adventures with Tom at the funeral and here, in this obituary.
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