Robert Spence, 7 October 1905 - 10 March 1976

Abstract

Robert Spence was born at South Shields, County Durham, on 7 October 1905, the only child of Rebecca and Robert Spence. His father was a marine engineer and since most of his life was spent at sea Robert’s upbringing was left largely in the hands of his mother. From 1911 to 1917 he went to the Stanhope Road Elementary School at South Shields and later, from 1917 to 1922, he attended Westoe Secondary Grammar School at South Shields where he obtained the John Heslop Scholarship. From his schooldays only a few memories survive: ‘We had one teacher known as “Boiler Smith” who made us learn poetry by boiling over and applying the cane. Another whom I remember with affection and respect was a true scholar. He was a historian and antiquarian who knew a good deal of science as well.’ It was the latter who first encouraged him in that direction. From Westoe Grammar he went, not yet 17 years old, to Armstrong College (now King’s) in Newcastle, then part of the University of Durham, where he obtained a first class B.Sc. in chemistry (1926), and M.Sc. and Ph.D. (1930) and finally the D.Sc. At Armstrong College he shared the Friere Marreco medal and prize for practical chemistry and the Senior Pemberton Scholarship. Apart from his academic studies, he took part in rowing and sculling; he rowed as stroke of college and university crews (for which his six foot height served him well). At this time he also developed an interest in industrial practice and spent a vacation course at the British Dyestuffs Corporation at Blakely in 1925. Other college activities were as secretary of the Newcastle Students’ Appeal in 1927, as President of the College Chemical Society, and as Secretary of the Bedson Club, a student scientific society at Armstrong College.