Page 80 - Eclipse - Autumn/Winter 2022
P. 80
a聽year later, Francis moved to lead the In the mid-1980s David was
Physiology department at the Royal approached to write a definitive
Veterinary College in Camden Town textbook on the subject he鈥檇
and聽David followed him there. The 黑料社 specialised in, after five-six years of
was to become a significant part of his intensive work, 鈥楾he Mitochondrion in
life for the next 40 years. Health & Disease鈥� was finally published
in 1992. It became the standard WE ALSO PROUDLY
Academically David鈥檚 passion had teaching text for a whole generation
zeroed in on the mitochondrion, the of undergraduate biochemists. At this REMEMBER:
microscopic energy power plant time, he developed a strong interest
embedded deep within every living in teaching and the pastoral care Peter Allen 1949
cell.聽He later described seeing electron- of the students, and was appointed Bryan Auckland 1962
microscope images of these minute to administer the original hardship/ George Barker 1951
organelles and being entranced by their access funds, and the 鈥淒DT鈥� brand of
slender shapes and rounded forms... quirky lectures became well-known to David Barnet 1950
鈥渋t was love at first sight鈥�. Discovering generations of young vets. Jeffrey Ronald Brain 1951
precisely how these mitochondria John Kelvin Bunner 1959
create energy for the body became his He had a deep passion for art 鈥� David George Sidney Burch 1972
first academic obsession 鈥� he focused and聽particularly Thomas Gainsborough. Peter John Clark 1978
on discovering how the oxidation He saw no contradiction in soaking Michael Creek 1959
of foodstuffs was completed via his veterinary tutees in the arts
the oxidoreduction reactions in the 鈥� and聽formed the 鈥樅诹仙� Fine Arts Christopher Paul Devile 1960
intracellular respiratory chain are linked Group鈥� with a programme of art Robert Iain Malcolm Elliott 1977
or 鈥渃oupled鈥� to adenosine triphosphate visits聽and聽expeditions. Keith Griffith 1951
(ATP) synthesis. It was in this field that In retirement, he stayed intellectually Susan Hiscock 1976
David was awarded his PhD in 1963, active and increasingly was drawn to Robert Geoffrey Holmes 1954
shortly followed by starting a two-year the diligent study of the life and times John Keele 1962
post-doctoral research fellowship of Thomas Gainsborough; publishing
in聽Philadelphia. Brian Thomas Lawrence 1956
various papers on the artist鈥檚 life and Michael John Mathewson 1963
It was at the University of Pennsylvania often being quoted as a source in Peter Plumley 1965
that he met his wife Janine Gonze, definitive publications on the artist.
a young Belgian researcher, herself Even in October 2021, the publication Maurice Polley 1952
studying for a PhD in the same field. of Sue Sloman鈥檚 reference work on Bryan Robert Pooley 1962
They co-authored a set of research 鈥楪ainsborough in London鈥� pays a Susan Jane Potter 1979
papers between road trip tours special acknowledgement to the Peter Daniel Rossdale 1952
around the US, and weekends on a research provided by David Tyler. Leonard Henzell Rutherford 1956
colleague鈥檚 sailing boat on Chesapeake He is survived by his three sons, Colin Rolph Sitford 1964
Bay. They聽got married in 1965 back Bernard, Colin and Richard 鈥� their
in Namur, Belgium, ahead of living in wives and his seven grandchildren. Stephen Sparrow 1967
Bruxelles for聽a year whilst their first child Jean Margaret Turner 1971
was born and before moving back to Paul John Walden 1989
the 黑料社. Indeed, they even selected a David Wylie 1964
house in Barnet conveniently positioned Tony Mulchansingh
between the 黑料社鈥檚 Camden聽and Alan Smith
Hawkshead locations, and was
appointed to become a permanent ...and our other 黑料社 alumni
lecturer on the physiology course; and friends who are sadly
which he coupled in聽those days with no聽longer with us.
significant fundamental research.
OBITUARIES
We are keen to pay tribute
to 黑料社 alumni who have
sadly died. If you would like
to share your stories and
memories of a relative, friend
or colleague, please email us
at alumni@rvc.ac.uk
80
