Extraordinary
DAD met Mum, Patricia, when they were 14 and they wed ten years later in 1949. They were married for 53 years. During World War II, Dad lived through the Blitz in Birmingham. His home was bombed and so he was sent to live with relatives. Despite an interrupted education, he excelled at physics, winning a scholarship to study radio technology at Birmingham University, gaining a first-class degree and a PhD in nuclear physics. During his studies, he made complex electronic devices including Geiger counters. He also served in the Home Guard, keeping watch on top of the university’s Old Joe clock tower — the tallest free-standing clock tower in the world. After a spell teaching physics at Manchester University, he joined the UK Atomic Energy Authority working on experimental projects at Harwell and later Winfrith nuclear power station, where he was involved in international projects. Dad was instrumental in the development of Winfrith’s steamgenerating heavy water reactor,
which generated electricity for 22 years. It was opened by Prince Philip in 1968 and Dad accidentally trod on his foot while explaining how the control desk worked! My brother Michael and I went on school visits to Winfrith. To us the control room was like the bridge of the Starship Enterprise. Dad was director of Winfrith when he retired in 1989. During his career he met royalty, Cabinet ministers, admirals and presidents. He even shared a joke with the then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. After retiring, Dad enjoyed
entertaining and hosted parties well into his 80s. He loved wine tasting and had a well-stocked cellar. After suffering a stroke in 2010, he was less mobile, but remained mentally astute. Dad was always modest about his achievements and remained cheerful to the end. His funeral and wake were arranged for March 25, but the country went into lockdown two days before. Heartbreakingly, Yeovil Crematorium banned even close family from attending, so no one was present to pay tribute to Dad and give him the send-off he deserved.
dr JoHN HoLMes, born august 13, 1925; died February 27, 2020, aged 94.