This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/apr/30/cb-richards-obituary

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
CB Richards obituary CB Richards obituary
(5 months later)
Few people leave their widow a bomb in the wardrobe, but for my father, Conway Brian Richards, that was typical. As a mathematician, physicist and researcher in the biological sciences, he loved to find out how things worked. The old bomb (non-explosive) was just one of many projects found scattered around the house after his death from cancer aged 86.Few people leave their widow a bomb in the wardrobe, but for my father, Conway Brian Richards, that was typical. As a mathematician, physicist and researcher in the biological sciences, he loved to find out how things worked. The old bomb (non-explosive) was just one of many projects found scattered around the house after his death from cancer aged 86.
Conway loved work. Born in south Wales, he took a first degree at the University of Wales in maths and physics, specialising in telecommunications. He then did his national service in Sierra Leone, fighting off ants and snakes while manning a communications post. His particular genius was for turning theory into practical working applications. He completed an MSc by research into thermionic valves and vacuum seals at Electronic Tubes, in High Wycombe, where he met Betty, whom he married in 1957.Conway loved work. Born in south Wales, he took a first degree at the University of Wales in maths and physics, specialising in telecommunications. He then did his national service in Sierra Leone, fighting off ants and snakes while manning a communications post. His particular genius was for turning theory into practical working applications. He completed an MSc by research into thermionic valves and vacuum seals at Electronic Tubes, in High Wycombe, where he met Betty, whom he married in 1957.
A career followed at Cambridge, where I was born, though my mother, finding herself married to someone who often ate and slept in his lab, soon returned to the shires. Meanwhile Conway was working at the university's Cavendish laboratory and the department of animal pathology. With a pioneering doctorate in antigen-antibody reactions, it was at the school of veterinary medicine that he completed his most important work, a simple immunological method for the diagnosis of pregnancy in mares. Patenting this work would have made him wealthy, but he was not interested in fame or fortune. He received requests from all over the world for reprints of his paper, which he saved and gave to me – for the stamps.A career followed at Cambridge, where I was born, though my mother, finding herself married to someone who often ate and slept in his lab, soon returned to the shires. Meanwhile Conway was working at the university's Cavendish laboratory and the department of animal pathology. With a pioneering doctorate in antigen-antibody reactions, it was at the school of veterinary medicine that he completed his most important work, a simple immunological method for the diagnosis of pregnancy in mares. Patenting this work would have made him wealthy, but he was not interested in fame or fortune. He received requests from all over the world for reprints of his paper, which he saved and gave to me – for the stamps.
He went with the United Nations Development Programme to Fanar in Lebanon, where he met Barbara, who worked for the Foreign Office. They married in 1974. With Barbara, he travelled to Lusaka, Brussels, Nicosia, Geneva and Warsaw. His last job was at the Institute of Cellular Pathology in Brussels. In retirement he pined for the laboratory and for science, his "cruel mistress".He went with the United Nations Development Programme to Fanar in Lebanon, where he met Barbara, who worked for the Foreign Office. They married in 1974. With Barbara, he travelled to Lusaka, Brussels, Nicosia, Geneva and Warsaw. His last job was at the Institute of Cellular Pathology in Brussels. In retirement he pined for the laboratory and for science, his "cruel mistress".
Conway was a prodigious and often sharply satirical letter writer who did not suffer fools gladly – or at all, as his students discovered. He was entirely uninterested in material possessions or social conventions. He kept up with developments in physics until his death.Conway was a prodigious and often sharply satirical letter writer who did not suffer fools gladly – or at all, as his students discovered. He was entirely uninterested in material possessions or social conventions. He kept up with developments in physics until his death.
He is survived by Barbara, myself and two grandsons, Jonathan and Philip.He is survived by Barbara, myself and two grandsons, Jonathan and Philip.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.