Foreword: Remembering Dai Games.

Abstract

Numerous accolades, awards, stories and descriptions can accurately be ascribed to Professor David Edgar Games – but the one that holds the warmest memories for many people – in science and beyond – is simply how he was known by almost everyone simply as ‘Dai’. Dai Games was one of those few special individuals of whom their personality and zest for life transcend the field in which they became known. His unique style, his personable demeanour, the humility in which he accepted the accolades that were rightly awarded to him down the years all tell a story of a man sadly missed by a great many people, not least of course by his family: Marguerite, Evan and Gwilym. Mass spectrometry is rightly described as a small community, and no matter the location or circumstance, it was almost guaranteed that there was a story to be told or a memory to be shared, and it is fitting tribute that the practice of raising a glass to his memory will be one long shared by all those he warmed during his life. Dai grew up in Ynysddu in South Wales and attended the Lewis School, Pengam. He went to study chemistry at King's College London, and after completing a PhD in chemistry at King's he completed postdoctoral work at McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada. He returned to Wales to take up an appointment as a lecturer in the department of chemistry at Cardiff University where he helped develop its work in organic chemistry, becoming responsible for running its mass spectrometry section. In 1989 he became Director of the Mass Spectrometry Research Unit at University of Wales, Swansea, successfully expanding and developing its remit, whilst also becoming head of the chemistry department. Dai retired in 2003 and spent his remaining years enjoying his garden at the family home in West Cross, Swansea, but was still a regular at the social gatherings of the Swansea mass spectrometry centre team. My own small story with Dai starts not long before his retirement – in 2000 I had just completed my undergraduate studies at Swansea and was evaluating the next step. I'd found that I'd enjoyed Dai's undergraduate lectures and went to him for advice – and he offered the chance to do a PhD. At the time, I had no real awareness over the funding mechanisms, but in his own style he promised he would ‘find the money somehow’ if it was something I wanted to do. This to me typifies his style – he looked for a personal way to help those he could, however he could. Almost all the alumni of Dai's group have a similar story of how he did something for them that went beyond the typical supervisor role. He became your Prof, your PI, your mentor, your friend and, in some cases, your surrogate father. Fast forward 20 years, and it is no understatement to say that I owe my career in mass spectrometry to Dai, as I am sure many others do too. Without his guiding hand, our little industry would be a far less colourful and interesting place. I was concluding my PhD practical work at the time of Dai's retirement party in Swansea in 2003, and he was asked by one person in attendance what his most impactful contribution had been over his long career. ‘The students’, he replied. Years later, it can be of no more fitting a tribute that his memory and teachings live on through those people, and I have no doubt he’d smile about that. Cheers, Dai.