College remembers Charles Rees, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry

Professor Rees will be missed by friends and colleagues at the College

Distinguished scientist dies aged 78 - <em>News</em>

By Danielle Reeves
25 September 2006

This week Imperial learnt of the sad news of the death of Charles Rees, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, who first came to work at the College as Hofmann Professor of Organic Chemistry in 1978.

Although he took early retirement in 1993, Professor Rees continued to work in the Chemistry department as an Emeritus, and was to be found in the department on a daily basis up until his death last week at the age of 78.

His colleagues from across the Department of Chemistry remember him as a distinguished scientist and a warm, charming man. "He was an absolutely lovely man - a kind, thoughtful colleague. He was an outstanding scientist and brilliantly funny speaker - the funniest I've heard in years," said Professor David Phillips, former Head of the Department of Chemistry, who worked with Professor Rees for 17 years.

Professor Rees was an organic chemist whose work was concerned with synthesis and chemical reactivity of heterocyclic molecules - ring-shaped organic molecules which contain both carbon and other atoms, such as nitrogen, in the ring. In the course of his career he published prolifically, with around 350 papers appearing in scientific journals and books.

He was the Royal Society of Chemistry's Tilden Lecturer in 1974, and the Pedler Lecturer in 1984, and received the (first) RSC Award in Heterocyclic Chemistry in 1980 and the International award in Heterocyclic Chemistry in 1995. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1974. He was awarded an Honorary D. Sc. by the University of Leicester in 1994 and a CBE in the New Years Honours list in 1995.

Professor Rees was the President of the Royal Society of Chemistry from July 1992 for two years. He had served on its Council and many Boards and Committees at various times; he was Chair of the Publication and Information Board for four years. He had been President of the Perkin Division of the RSC, and President of the Chemistry Association for the Advancement of Science.

Professor Richard Templer, Head of Imperial's Department of Chemistry, said: "Charles' record of academic achievements were legion, but to the many people who knew Charles what they will remember were his wonderful personal qualities. He was a great wit and raconteur, a flirt with an excess of charm, an expert on fine wines and the best company you could wish for. It is rare that you can say of a colleague that he was truly loved by those whose lives he touched, but this was true of Charles. We will all miss him acutely."

The funeral will take place on Friday 29 September at 11am, Holy Trinity Church, Prince Consort Road SW7 2BA. For any further details, please contact Catherine Oriel in the Department of Chemistry on 020 7594 5855 or email c.oriel@imperial.ac.uk

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