Recalling my memories with Professor Harry R. Hudson

Professor Dr. Harry Robinson Hudson was a prominent staff member of the Polytechnic of North London/University of North London/London Metropolitan University for more than five decades. His research interests included organophosphorus chemistry, especially P-esters, such as vinyl phosphates, α-hydroxyphosphonates, and α-aminophosphonates. Appreciating the importance of Russian organophosphorus chemistry, he learned the Russian language, and took part in the translation of articles published in Zs. Obscs. Himii to English. The translation has been published as J. Gen. Chem. for decades. Professor Hudson was especially good at evaluating reaction mechanisms. Investigating the Perkow–Arbuzov reaction, he prepared stable neopentylphosphonium intermediates. He guided Ph.D. students, including those from developing countries, and he was open for collaboration.

In this way, he made contacts with a many universities including the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. This collaboration involved Professor László Tőke, Professor Imre Petneházy, Dr. Zsuzsa Jászay and me, and, in later years, Professor Mátyás Czugler, and the joint work lasted for 35 years. Ten scientific papers were the fruit of the cooperation.^1–10 Professor Hudson himself published 132 articles and 2 patents. He often visited Budapest, and we all had the possibility of spending shorter or longer times in London as his guest. We were even invited to his home at Green Dragon Lane. When he was in Budapest, we took him to concerts as we realized that classical music was his major hobby that resonated with his family situation: his wife, daughters and sons were all musicians.

While he was professionally active, he visited all International Conferences on Phosphorus Chemistry (ICPC). His final ICPC was that held in Birmingham (2004). He was a modest, but highly reputable member of the international “organophosphorus community.” He was a real supporter of the journal Phosphorus, Sulfur, and Silicon and the Related Elements, where he submitted valuable papers.

I was in an almost daily connection with him, and we were worried when he informed me about his illness but relieved when he was getting well after his operation. However, shortly afterwards, he passed away at the age of 86. Dear Harry, our good friend, we will miss you much. You as a person, and your advice! Rest in peace!