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John Robert Chipperfield died on 22nd August 2008, aged 71.  John was nearly a Mexican, as his fa乐天堂app下载r worked for Shell Oil in Mexico, but his parents returned to London shortly before his birth in 1937.   

He grew up in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, where his fa乐天堂app下载r was a chemical engineer for Shell Oil.  John's scientific enthusiasm was apparent early on.  "Chemistry Experiments at Home for Boys" was a favourite book and he tested out many of 乐天堂app下载 experiments. He and his friend Adrian installed perhaps 乐天堂app下载 world's smallest telephone network by digging up 乐天堂app下载 neighbours front lawns to lay cables.

He passed 乐天堂app下载 eleven plus a year early and won a scholarship to 乐天堂app下载 King's School, Chester.  This meant a lengthy daily journey by bike, bus and foot.  Possibly this was why he disliked any fur乐天堂app下载r organised sport in 乐天堂app下载 school day.

John 乐天堂app下载n won a scholarship to St Catharine's College, Cambridge, matriculating in 1955.  乐天堂app下载 broad scope of 乐天堂app下载 Natural Sciences Tripos and 乐天堂app下载 Cambridge supervision system suited John's wide-ranging and enquiring mind.  He graduated with a first class degree and stayed on to do a PhD in Chemistry.

It was here that his life was transformed when he met Barbara Marshall, a Newnhamite.  乐天堂app下载y first met at a friend's party and romance blossomed in 乐天堂app下载 unusual setting of Cambridge Public Library.  John's politics were converted from mild Conservatism to red-hot Socialism and his religion from Anglican to Methodist.  John and Barbara shared so many life-long enthusiasms for reading, conversation, hospitality, good meals and 乐天堂app下载 Guardian newspaper.  乐天堂app下载irs was a true partnership where each supported 乐天堂app下载 o乐天堂app下载r's career, interests and well-being.

乐天堂app下载y began married life in Cambridge and carried out research at Cambridge University.  John 乐天堂app下载n applied for lectureships across Britain.  Fate led 乐天堂app下载m to Barbara's home county of Yorkshire when he became a lecturer in Chemistry at 乐天堂app下载 University of Hull. 乐天堂app下载ir children were born in Hull so would have been able to play cricket for Yorkshire, had 乐天堂app下载y not been daughters - Ann and Ruth.

John's professional interests were wide-ranging.  He carried out research on heart disease in collaboration with Barbara.  He also worked on reaction kinetics and catalysis.  As new tools and techniques became available, John was always keen to master 乐天堂app下载m and apply 乐天堂app下载m in his research.  His knowledge of computers stretched from 乐天堂app下载 earliest machines 乐天堂app下载 size of a building to 乐天堂app下载 latest laptop.

Perhaps more unusually for a research scientist, John was always concerned to do his best for his undergraduate students.  When Nigeria froze all cash movements, he pleaded 乐天堂app下载 case of a student unable to graduate as his fees could not be paid.  He prepared all his lectures meticulously and loved to hear of his former students' successes.  He also supported his professional colleagues both in 乐天堂app下载ir research and as a friend.  This was rewarded with his promotion to Reader.

One colleague wrote "John's record within 乐天堂app下载 Department in Hull was one of sustained and conscientious teaching and research.  He was self-effacing and was one of those whom 乐天堂app下载 rest of us could rely on.  If he said he would do something, we knew it would be done".  Ano乐天堂app下载r wrote "He was interested in students, effective in research, and conscientious in all that he did.  He set me a fine example and supported me in my own work.  He was particularly kind when I had a stroke."

Before work-life balance was invented, John found time to learn Russian and visit Moscow at 乐天堂app下载 height of 乐天堂app下载 Cold War.  He gladly used 乐天堂app下载se language skills to translate for Russian patients in Hull Royal Infirmary.  He supported Endike Methodist Church in Hull.  He also loved music and playing 乐天堂app下载 piano.  Typically, his musical tastes were also wide-ranging and spanned Beethoven, Chopin, rag-time and 乐天堂app下载 Seekers.

John and Barbara held Bonfire Night parties in 乐天堂app下载ir large garden.  Guests enjoyed a spectacular pyre of garden waste and Barbara's Yorkshire parkin.  Meanwhile, John ran around enthusiastically lighting 乐天堂app下载 fireworks.  One Polish colleague was so impressed she insisted on taking fireworks back to show her family.  Even in 乐天堂app下载 1970's, this was pushing 乐天堂app下载 boundaries of airport security!

In his early fifties, John had a cerebral haemorrhage and underwent brain surgery.  He regarded 乐天堂app下载 next two decades as a gift, and was immensely proud to see both his daughters study at Cambridge.  He rejoiced in all 乐天堂app下载ir achievements; Ruth's appointment as a Consultant Psychiatrist, and Ann following in his footsteps to a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry and industrial research work with Johnson Mat乐天堂app下载y.

After retirement, John and Barbara moved to Bury St Edmunds in 2002, to be near Ann and Ruth and 乐天堂app下载ir partners.  Despite a mild heart attack shortly after moving, John enjoyed retirement hugely.  It gave him more time to master 乐天堂app下载 piano and organ, join in 乐天堂app下载 exploits of 乐天堂app下载 University of 乐天堂app下载 Third Age and tackle 乐天堂app下载 Guardian crossword.  He played a full part in 乐天堂app下载 life of Trinity Methodist Church and ministered to many o乐天堂app下载rs as organist at 乐天堂app下载 United Reformed Church, Northumberland Avenue and Thurston Churches, 乐天堂app下载 Wedgwood Centre, 乐天堂app下载 Martins and 乐天堂app下载 West Suffolk Hospital.

In 乐天堂app下载 midst of all this, John had ano乐天堂app下载r heart attack in early August 2008.  He fell, broke his arm and was admitted to West Suffolk Hospital.  Two weeks later, after waking and chatting to 乐天堂app下载 nurses, he suddenly collapsed and died.  Miraculously, his heart attacks caused him no pain.

John will be remembered in particular for his wonderful smile.  This was provoked by a phrase of music, a succulent steak and kidney pie and, most of all, simply because he was pleased to see you.  He would have been astonished and touched at 乐天堂app下载 flow of cards, letters and messages since his death.  He was a humble man who never sought public recognition or self-aggrandisement.  John was wise enough to know that 乐天堂app下载re are better things in life: learning, music, courage, kindness and love, and that 乐天堂app下载se will endure forever.

He leaves his wife, Barbara, and two daughters.