黑料社区

Born a twin to Anne in Doncaster in 1933 to Tom and Lillian; Tom a Coal Miner from Wales and Lillian in Service from Bridlington. He left grammar school at the age of 17 where he had specialised in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

• First apprenticed to ICI who sponsored his pursuit of Mathematics and then of Chemistry
• Northampton Polytechnic
• Hatfield Technical College until aged 22
• Graduate membership of the Royal Institute of Chemistry, aged 24 in 1957

On the 7 October 1957 Jack joined Smith and Nephew in Huntingdon, choosing development work rather than just research. In October 1959 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of Chemistry.

Jack鈥檚 job was stimulating and with his new wife Hazel鈥檚 support he worked very hard. In 1965 working with Smith and Nephew he gained a place in the Chemical Engineering Department of The University Of London Kings College, qualifying with a diploma in July 1966.

In 1970 he was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry whilst also being a member of The Institute of Materials, the Biological Engineering Society and The Royal Photographic Society.

From 1966 his career progression was with Smith and Nephew until he retired in 1993.

During these years Jack published five significant technical papers and is credited with four US and three UK patents for Smith and Nephew wound healing products (dressings).

At the end of 1993 Jack included this summary in a CV appearing to apply for an even higher position within Smith and Nephew. As Jack wrote at the time, his work and patents for Smith and Nephew must have substantially supported the companies very rapid growth whilst significantly reducing the cost to them of subsequent acquisitions! One assumes that this was unsuccessful because in December 1994 Jack retired saying 鈥渢he first thing I shall throw away is my diary鈥�. When asked what he would do with his time, he replied "build a conservatory".

Jack was a very private, independent, clever man and very few people really knew him well, although his legacy speaks for itself.