We were saddened to hear that John passed away on 14th November 2015. John started his career in the early 1960s as a technician at the Chester Beatty Research Laboratories of the Institute of Cancer Research in London working for Eric Boyland, who famously identified the role of metabolic activation in chemical carcinogenesis and from whom John learned his craft in quantitative analysis of reactive metabolites. His research with Boyland on reactive intermediates of tobacco alkaloids was so profound that it warranted a Nature publication. In the mid-1960s, Professor Arnold Beckett, a pioneer of nitrogen metabolism in drugs, invited John to undertake research for a PhD in the Department of Pharmacy, Chelsea College (now Kings College). John’s own work continued with a focus on the identification and consequences .
of metabolism of aromatic and aliphatic amines. This theme continued throughout his long and fruitful career. The 1970s and 1980s were heady days for the new science of toxicology and realizing the role of metabolism in the toxicity of drugs and other xenobiotics was a field that pharmacy and those trained in the pharmaceutical sciences dominated. Over John’s long career, his “army” of PhD students (many of whom were pharmacy trained), and his capacity to collaborate with other key names in the field made a significant contribution to our understanding of organic nitrogen oxidation.
Staff and Students of Biopharmacy Laboratories, Chelesa College, University of London, early 80’s. From left to right: Dr. M.P.A. Wareing, Dr. N.J. Gooderham, Dr. M. Christou, Mr. L. Disley, Dr. A. Seago, Dr. J.T. Marsden, Professor J.W. Gorrod, Mrs. J. Copeland, Dr. V. Pai, Dr. M.R. Smith, Professor L.H. Patterson, Professor L.A. Damani, Dr. A.R. Hibberd.
In recognition of his research output in drug metabolism and its adverse consequences, John was appointed Reader in 1980 and Professor of Biopharmacy in 1984 eventually becoming Head of the Department of Pharmacy and Research Professor of Kings College in London. John’s academic legacy can be seen in the number of PhD students he successfully supervised and the senior positions many of them went on to achieve in academia. Furthermore, his research contributions, resulting in over 200 scientific papers and a dozen or so books, were recognized with many prestigious awards. In recognition to his contribution to pharmacy and the pharmaceutical sciences, he was first made a Honorary Member of the Pharmaceutical Society, an accolade bestowed on only a few that are not pharmacy trained, was an elected member of the Athenaeum, followed by a Fellow of Kings College and a Fellow of The School of Pharmacy (now within UCL). Upon retirement from his full-time academic career, John was offered an emeritus professorship at The University of Essex where he continued his training of PhD students and research output
Although John was driven by his research, it is the warmth of the man that all who came in contact with him will remember. The time he took to mentor and motivate his students and his drive to initiate and complete that next study is well remembered. For sometime, his competitiveness extended to running marathons wherever he might be invited to around the world. His joy achieved at his local running club and competing in the London marathon was one of the more surprising sides to this Professor. Another passion was for Suffolk where he retired to and supported the local church.
He maintained a close network with his past PhD students and we all owe him a great deal where we not only learned about science but also were able to share his philosophy on life. To quote Goethe (as John often did) “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.” John did more than most and many lives have been enriched by his friendship. John’s wife Doreen passed away in 2012 and he is survived by his children Julia, Simon and Nicholas and his beloved grandchildren.