It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Dr Jonathan (Joe) Spencer, age 47. He was killed in a car accident near Cambridge on 6 April. 

Joe was a Reader in Biological Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. Amongst other notable achievements, he was awarded the RSC Bader Prize in 2007 for his breakthroughs in the biosynthesis of clinically important natural products. Joe was involved in several RSC activities and was a regular attendee and supporter of the Bio-organic Group meetings. He will be missed by all who knew him and his death is a great loss to the chemistry community.