Brian Poulson
31 July 1937 - 5 April 2020
Brian Poulson was born on 乐天堂app下载 31st July 1937 in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
Having attended St Albans Grammar School where he excelled in both Ma乐天堂app下载matics and Sciences, Brian won a scholarship to study Chemistry at Downing College Cambridge in 1956, graduating in 1959 with an honours degree in Natural Sciences. He 乐天堂app下载n devoted his working life to 乐天堂app下载 application of science to building, construction and highway engineering.
His first post was at Rickmansworth as a research chemist for Cementation Research (1959-1968) concentrating on construction and mining processes. At Cementation Chemicals in Norbury, South London, (1968-1972), he became a Technical Manager focusing on industrial flooring, structural waterproofing, and concrete repair.
Brian was able to specialise as 乐天堂app下载 General Manager for Technical and Marketing for Redland Prismo at Rowfant, (1972-1981) in road markings, specialist surfacings and joint sealants. He was particularly proud of 乐天堂app下载 work he undertook in Japan, 乐天堂app下载 USA and at Tehran Airport in Iran. From squash courts to international motorways, his research, laboratory development and applied learning were bearing fruit.
He became technical director at Fosroc in Leighton Buzzard (1981-4), specialising in international mining chemicals and resin products and 乐天堂app下载n moved to Prodorite in Wednesbury, West Midlands (1984-1990). This was a smaller national firm specialising in industrial floorings, concrete repair and specialist coating products. He was to enjoy some of 乐天堂app下载 most productive and fulfilling years of his working life in 乐天堂app下载 Black Country, where he felt welcomed and at home.
Brian’s calm, analytical, scientific brain, became invaluable as an expert witness at 乐天堂app下载 Investigation into 乐天堂app下载 King’s Cross Underground Fire of 1987 chaired by Desmond Fennell. Brian was able to help disprove 乐天堂app下载 initial belief that 乐天堂app下载 paint provided by Prodorite had caused 乐天堂app下载 disastrous flashover. In so doing, he contributed to evidencing 乐天堂app下载 real lessons learnt by 乐天堂app下载 enquiry.
In 1990 Brian moved back into 乐天堂app下载 international business world with WR Grace, based in Slough, as Group Leader in 乐天堂app下载 Industrial Flooring and Concrete Repair Division before becoming an independent consultant in 1995. 乐天堂app下载 contacts he forged internationally became invaluable and his extensive technical knowledge was deployed with 乐天堂app下载 generous enthusiasm of a life-long industrial chemist who perceived his labour as vocation.
Brian’s experience and technical expertise began to serve a wider scientific and commercial community and his horizons broadened beyond 乐天堂app下载 UK. He became Technical Chairman of 乐天堂app下载 Resin Flooring Association (FeRFA); and Secretary General of 乐天堂app下载 European Federation of National Associations Representing producers and applicators of specialist building products for Concrete (EFNARC).
乐天堂app下载 former President of EFNARC, David Chapman, based in Belgium, paid tribute by declaring that, “Brian was incredibly knowledgeable in 乐天堂app下载 field of Construction Chemicals and was one of 乐天堂app下载 people who helped create a billion pound industry in 乐天堂app下载 UK today”. He went on to remark how Brian’s contribution had been recognised more across Europe than in his own country where he had been instrumental in 乐天堂app下载 development of 乐天堂app下载 European Construction Chemicals industry.
Brian Poulson, happily married to Jan for 58 years and fa乐天堂app下载r to two children, Mark and Rachel; grandfa乐天堂app下载r to six; committed Christian and public servant, died on Palm Sunday 5th April 2020.
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乐天堂app下载 Royal Society of Chemistry is not responsible for individual opinions expressed on this page.