In Memoriam | 39
Roy McWeeney
BRITISH ACADEMIC PHYSICIST AND CHEMIST
Roy McWeeny was born in Bradford , Yorkshire , in May 1924 . His first degree was in physics from the University of Leeds . He then obtained a D . Phil . in mathematical physics and quantum theory under the supervision of Charles Coulson at the Mathematical Institute , University of Oxford .
From 1957 to 1965 he was at Keele , rising to Professor of Theoretical Physics and Theoretical Chemistry . From 1966 to 1982 he was Professor of Theoretical Chemistry at the University of Sheffield . In 1982 he moved to the University of Pisa , Italy , where he remained an Emeritus Professor until his death .
In 1996 a celebratory festschrift volume was published in his honour containing original papers by 132 scientists from 19 countries . He was awarded the 2006 Spiers Memorial Medal by the Faraday Division of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Medal Lecture , “ Quantum chemistry : The first seventy years ”, was published in Faraday Discussions . He has served on the editorial board of Molecular Physics , Chemical Physics Letters and International Journal of Quantum Chemistry .
He has written many scientific papers and seven books . From 2002 he edited an openaccess series of Basic Books in Science , several of which he authored himself . He was also an elected member of the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science and the European Academy of Arts , Sciences and the Humanities .
McWeeny died in Pisa , Italy , in April 2021 at the age of 96 .
Gordon ‘ Gus ’ Nabney
DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL RECREATION – 1966-94
A native of Stoke-on-Trent , Gus grew up in a close-knit potteries ’ family attending Wolstanton Grammar School before joining the RAF , serving as both a Physical Training and Parachute Jump Instructor .
In 1966 , Gus successfully secured the post of Superintendent in the new Sports Centre at Keele and spent the following 27 years thoroughly enjoying himself within his ‘ dream vocation ’ rising to become the Director of Physical Recreation .
Gus , his beloved wife Greta , and their children spent several happy years living on the campus at No 56 ‘ The Covert ’ and every day would see Gus marching off to work with his trusty collie-cross , Jess , faithfully at heal .
Those who remember Gus will recall a confident , personable , and innovative character , who always demonstrated an abundance of enthusiasm for all things sport at Keele .