Eddie Abel
British chemist (1931–2021)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edward William Abel CBE, FRSC (3 December 1931 – 19 April 2021)[1] was a British chemist, editor of textbooks on organometallic chemistry and president of the Royal Society of Chemistry (1996–1998).[2]
3 December 1931
Eddie Abel | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Edward William Abel 3 December 1931 Kenfig Hill, Wales |
| Died | 19 April 2021 (aged 89) Cobham, England |
Resting place | Randalls Park Crematorium, Leatherhead |
| Education | University of Wales, Cardiff University of London |
| Spouse |
Margaret Rosina Edwards
(m. 1960; died 2018) |
| Children | 2 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | |
| Workplaces | |
| Thesis | The preparation and properties of diphenylboronous acid and its derivatives. (1957) |
| Michael F. Lappert | |
Other academic advisors | Howard Purnell |
Notable students | Suresh Bhargava |
| President of the Royal Society of Chemistry | |
| In office 1996-1998 | |
| Preceded by | John Howard Purnell |
| Succeeded by | Anthony Ledwith |
Early life and education
Abel was born in Kenfig Hill, Bridgend County Borough,[3] the son of Sidney John Abel and Donna Maria (née Grabham). He attended Bridgend County Grammar School, where he gained his Higher School Certificate in 1949.[4] Abel went on to study chemistry at University of Wales, Cardiff, where he was an undergraduate student of Professor Howard Purnell.[5] Following his graduation from Cardiff, he served with the British Army during the Korean War.[6] He then pursued postgraduate studies at the Northern Polytechnic (now part of London Metropolitan University), supported by a Postgraduate Research Scholarship from the Courtaulds' Scientific and Educational Trust Fund, awarded in 1956.[4][7] Under the supervision of Michael F. Lappert, Abel finished his PhD in just two years.[6]
Academic career
Following his PhD, Abel continued his research at Imperial College London, working as a post-doctoral research fellow in the laboratory of future Nobel laureate Geoffrey Wilkinson.[8][9] In 1959, he joined University of Bristol as a lecturer[10] and was later promoted to reader.[2] In 1972, he became Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at University of Exeter. He was also Exeter's head of Chemistry from 1977 to 1988,[6] and deputy-vice-chancellor from 1991 to 1994.[2][11] Among his doctoral students at Exeter was Suresh Bhargava AM, now a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry who has enjoyed a successful career in Australia.[12]
Throughout Abel's career, he also held visiting positions at University of British Columbia (1970), TU Braunschweig (1973), and Australian National University (1990).[2] He served as President of the Royal Society of Chemistry from 1996 to 1998. Upon his retirement from Exeter in 1997, he was made Professor Emeritus.[3]
Workplace incidents
In 1959 Abel was injured in an explosion at Imperial. "He received burns to his hands and cuts but his injuries [were] not thought to be serious"[13][6] The explosion also blew off several windows as well as the door of Wilkinson's office, which was adjacent to Abel's lab.[9]
Abel collapsed at work during his time at Exeter, as recalled by his student Bhargava. He was hospitalised following the incident but soon recovered.[12]
Honours and recognitions
Abel was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.[12] He won the society's Tilden Prize for outstanding contributions to chemistry research in the 1980/81 academic year.[14]
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1997 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to chemistry.[15] In 2000, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from University of Exeter.[16]
Personal life and death
Abel married Margaret Rosina Edwards in Bridgend on 6 August 1960. They had a son and a daughter: Edward Christopher (1963) and Julia Margaret (1967) who, between them, have four grandchildren.[17] Margaret Rosina Abel died on 4 February 2018. Eddie Abel died in Cobham on 19 April 2021.[12] His funeral was held at Randall's Park Crematorium, Leatherhead on 18 May 2021.[17]