Dr Timothy Leslie Dawson - obituary
27 October 1928 鈥� 25 September 2022
Tim was born in Burley-in-Wharfedale, close to the famous ‘Ilkla Moor B’at Hat’ on 27th October 1928. Sent away to boarding school at the beginning of WW2 in the country (Giggleswick). From the age of 15 began to succeed academically.
After gaining Higher School Certificate (chemistry, physics and maths) obtained a scholarship to Imperial College, London, but at that time 90% of uni. places were promised to ex-Servicemen, so studied at the local Technical College and gained a London External BSc in Chemistry in 1949 after this transferred to Huddersfield Technical College (now a Metropolitan Uni.) to study for PhD (London) in organic chemistry….awarded this in 1951.
Married to Sheila in 1951 for over 60 years.
Employed at Windscale atomic energy establishment as a Chemist but moved a few years later to follow organic chemistry.
As an organic chemist, moved to work at Blackley for ICI (Dyestuffs Division) in 1954.
He became head of a technical service section within ICI in 1964, carrying out research and customer service for the dyeing and printing industries, both in the UK and abroad (both western and east European markets, North America and Australasia). He often had to give lectures in German.
Publishing around 50 papers in science journals he was awarded four silver medals, then in 2009 a gold medal for his research publications.
Retired early in 1983 (aged only 54!) the last three years as a marketing manager. After four years of ‘leisure’, formed a partnership (Dawson Ellis Ltd) to develop electronic ink-jet printing machines for patterning textiles, based at UMIST (now Manchester Uni.). As a consequence became ‘hands-on’ acquainted with computing, electrical and electronic engineering technologies. Funding was gained from several grants and awards and signed several licence agreements, but didn’t make a fortune! Worked at UMIST until the Millennium.
Since then, and to keep interested in science, he continued to write articles and some book chapters (all to do with colour, visual or electronic) for various scientific publications.
Leisure included canal boating and world travel.
Joined cruising clubs and canal societies and was Commodore, Chairman and President of one and for the past 10 years Chairman of the Macclesfield Canal Society. Chairman/President to two other local societies including the Macclesfield Field Club, Joined the Masons in 1961.
Tim had a long and interesting life leaving 2 sons, 4 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He will also be missed by a great number of friends and colleagues.
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