David Colin Sherrington. 5 March 1945—4 October 2014

Abstract

David Colin Sherrington began life as a Liverpool docker's son and became an internationally recognized authority on reactive polymers and using polymer-supported reagents in novel applications. His research career began at University of Liverpool with his PhD work on the mechanisms of cationic polymerization. From 1972 until retirement in 2010, Strathclyde University was his chief research base. In the very early years he continued with mechanistic and kinetic studies of cationic polymerization, but soon moved to the field of polymer-supported reactions and reagents, to which he devoted the rest of his research career. An important contribution to the direction of his scientific activity was the secondment years he spent at Unilever, where he became involved in polymeric high internal phase emulsions (polyHIPEs). In the following years, he devoted much effort to accurate characterization of these and other porous polymer supports, frequently involving him in learning new techniques (e.g. neutron scattering). An important feature was the use of polymer supports to catalyse oxidation reactions, especially olefin epoxidation. He gained valuable insight into many aspects of his research from the many visiting professorships over his career. He was involved on the editorial board of Reactive Polymers continuously from 1982 until 2010 and he was awarded many honours. His free time was mainly devoted to fishing, particularly for salmon, an activity he shared with his wife and a group of friends for many years. His warmth, intellect and clear interest in the careers of his research students were key components in creating the polymer ‘family’ to which they belonged. His years of retirement were saddened by multiple system atrophy, a devastating illness throughout which he was cared for by Val, his wife.