Allan Hamilton obituary
My friend and colleague Allan Hamilton, who has died of pneumonia aged 85, was a distinguished microbiologist at the University of Aberdeen. His work transformed the understanding of microbial corrosion in offshore oil installations and helped to solve it.
He was born in Glasgow to Vernon Hamilton, an accountant with Glasgow Corporation Tramways, and Jean (nee Hood), who worked at Pettigrew’s store in the city. He attended Hutchesons’ grammar school and studied biochemistry at the University of Glasgow, graduating in 1958. He completed a PhD in 1961 and went to work for Unilever in Bedfordshire, investigating the safety of food and hygiene products.
In 1969 Allan became a senior lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, where he researched energy transduction in bacteria. After uncovering new insights into how microbes corrode oil rigs, he and colleagues formed a company, Micran, providing mitigating services to the oil industry.
In 1978 Allan established the department of microbiology at Aberdeen, becoming the first holder of its chair of microbiology. He selected and nurtured talented colleagues, taking pride in their attainments. Throughout his leadership the department was consistently one of the most highly ranked research units in the UK. Allan was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1980.
Recognising the importance of bacteria to emerging biotechnologies, he orchestrated the rejuvenation of the National Collection for Industrial Bacteria, which had stored types of organisms for research and had been neglected and underfunded. He became its chairman in 1982 and steered its development until 1997. His vision not only ensured the survival of a national resource but saw it develop through the next generation of technologies to provide a range of important services.
Allan married Evie Stewart in 1992. After his retirement in 1994, he and Evie moved to Ardrishaig, where he became a director of the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses (2004-09) and of the Kilmartin Museum (2015-17). Allan was also treasurer of the Microbiology Society.
Allan had wide interests, including sailing, the arts, music, fine wine, whisky and fly fishing. He ably played the bagpipes at many a Burns night. He was great company and a wonderful host at home and on his boat.
He is survived by Evie, and his stepdaughters, Marsali and Toto, and stepgrandchildren Arty, Cora, Tala, Ruban and Hani.