A legacy of inspiration and achievement

The University community lost two of its most inspirational figures recently. Professor Walter Spear, whose groundbreaking work laid the foundations for the development of flat screen TVs and solar panels, died in February at the age of 87. Dr Pat McPherson, businessman, philanthropist and tireless charity campaigner passed away in March at the age of 91.

Professor Walter Spear FRS FRSE
Described as "one of the most outstanding experimentalists of his age," Professor Walter Spear FRS FRSE was a pioneer of thin film and large area electronics. His work at the University with colleague Peter Le Comber in the 1970s and 1980s on amorphous semiconductors paved the way for a multi-billion industry.

Born in Germany in 1921 Professor Spear came to Britain just before the war and studied at Birkbeck College, University of London. It was there that he developed and built with Werner Ehrenberg, the microfocus X-ray generator that was used by Franklin and Gosling in the study of DNA that lead to the discovery of the double helix structure.

Walter Spear taught at the University of Leicester where he first met Peter Le Comber. In 1969 both men joined the staff at Dundee and established the Amorphous Materials Research Group.

In 1975 they published a landmark paper on the doping of amorphous silicon which ultimately led to the manufacture of a range of modern technologies from photocopiers to solar powered devices. They achieved a number of world firsts including the development of the amorphous silicon thin film transistor, the basis of today's lucrative flat panel liquid crystal display industry.

A Fellow of the Royal Society, and of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Professor Spear published around 180 scientific papers, reviews and book articles. He won an array of prestigious international prizes including the European Physical Society Europhysics Prize in 1976, the Max Born Medal and Prize for Physics in 1977, the Rank Prize in Optoelectronics in 1988 and the Royal Society Rumford Medal in 1990.

He retired in the early 1990s shortly after the sudden and tragic death of colleague and close friend Peter Le Comber. The two have been described by Dr Rod Gibson of the Amorphous Materials Research Group as "one of the most remarkable and durable partnerships in the history of experimental physics."

Professor Spear is survived by his wife Hilda, an Honorary Research Fellow in the Department of English, their two daughters and two grandchildren.

A tribute to Professor Spear by Professor Rose is available online at ww.dundee.ac.uk/pressreleases/2008/prmarch08/spear.html

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Dr Pat McPherson OBE LLD
Dr Pat McPherson, vice chairman of the Ninewells Cancer Campaign, honorary graduate and former member of the University Court, was one of Dundee's best known businessmen and philanthropists.

He was also one of the University's strongest supporters. In February a chair in cancer biology was named in his honour in recognition of his "wholehearted, sustained and loyal friendship and support over many years."

It was a move which surprised and delighted Dr McPherson who said at the time of the announcement that he was "honoured by this wonderful gesture. "

Educated at Dundee High School, Dr McPherson served in the RAF before buying a small dental manufacturing company in 1946. Under his leadership Wright Dental became one of the leading dental companies in the UK.

He also worked tirelessly for a number of charities and community groups including the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund for Children, Tenovus Scotland, the Tayside Body Scanner Appeal, Rotary International and the Ninewells Cancer Campaign.

His dedication and commitment resulted in millions of pounds being raised for cancer research.

Dr McPherson was awarded an honorary degree by the University in 1986, at which time he was described in the laureation as "an outstanding son of Dundee". He was awarded an OBE the following year for his dedication to public service.

In a tribute to Dr McPherson, Principal Sir Alan Langlands said he had been a "great friend and supporter of the University for several decades."

"His tireless work for the Ninewells Cancer Campaign has had a profound effect on the development of university research and the provision of services for the people of Tayside and north-east Fife," he said. "He will be greatly missed by his many friends at the university."

Dr Jacqui Wood, Chairwoman of the Ninewells Cancer Campaign, described Dr McPherson as a "giant of a man."

"He was so proud of Dundee and contributed so much to Dundee and to the University," she said. "He was a wonderful gentleman and philanthropist."

A tribute to Dr McPherson also appeared in the Courier on March 22. It can be seen at www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2008/03/22/newsstory11103060t0.asp.

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