Dr Gordon Wylie Downs CChem MRSC
1926 - 2021
The distinguished Polymer Chemist, Dr Gordon Downs, has died aged 86.
Gordon’s parents were James, a railway signalman and Janet. Gordon had a sister - Jean and they were brought up in Cupar, Fife. In the light of his wartime experience, Gordon’s father was adamant that neither Gordon or Jean should go through the things that he had experienced and he encouraged both of them to study hard, placing great emphasis on the value of education. They went to Bell Baxter High School and Gordon was a rugby player, most likely with the Howe of Fife Rugby Club. Gordon and Jean took heed of their father’s wishes as Jean went on to be a teacher of modern languages and in 1951, Gordon headed to the University of St. Andrews where he studied Chemistry, graduating in 1955 as BSc with a First Class Honours degree. He remained at St. Andrews to do a PhD on the thermal decomposition of trifluoromethyl Iodide.
Much of Gordon’s work related to the synthesis, chemical structure and physical properties of the various grades of polyethylene. The man in the street is familiar with polythene bags, polythene buckets, polythene milk bottles, polythene water pipes and polythene gas pipes. They all seem to be the same stuff. In fact, however, they are all different grades which Gordon’s work illuminated.
In technical discussions, Gordon didn’t suffer fools gladly but he never said “That’s a load of rubbish”. He adhered strictly to the Civil Service formula of ‘With the greatest respect….’
Gordon never married and did not normally socialise in the conventional sense of the word. He could be very uncommunicative even to neighbours and acquaintances. On the other hand, there were many acts of kindness and generosity to colleagues, people who worked for him and others. e.g. Around 1973 his 1951 vintage AJS 500cc motorcycle was offered to and gratefully accepted by the Glasgow Transport Museum who commented on its excellent condition.
Gordon did have interests outside of work. As a young man he was keen on cross country skiing and gliding, obtaining a pilot’s Gliding Certificate from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale and becoming a life member of the Scottish Gliding Union.
Most importantly, Gordon was a life-long member of the Perth Mountaineering Club, continuing to participate in their excursions until quite recent years. At one point he was their president. His mode of transport to Club meets was in a van, initially an Austin van then an Austin Marina van. He told his friends that it was cheaper than a car because he paid less tax on account of there being no side windows. He had them fitted out so that he could sleep in them too. These vans were known to his friends as the ‘Downs Mobiles.’ If you were travelling in one of them with Gordon at the wheel, then you needn’t be in a hurry. Gordon was known for never driving above 40mph and if someone else was driving the van, they also had to stick to Gordon’s imposed speed limit.
Another quirk of Gordon’s regarding his hillwalking was his fairly original attire. Most of his friends agreed that he was the only person they had ever seen on the hills wearing a shirt and tie, sports jacket and cap. The cap was replaced in hot weather by a handkerchief knotted at the corners. Gordon had a real love of the mountains of Scotland and he climbed all the Munros (283 hills over 3000ft) more than once and all of the Corbetts (221 hills between 2500 and 3000ft). A keen photographer, he had slides of most of these expeditions.
One of Gordon’s other walking pals, Malcolm Finlayson died, at the age of 100 on the same day as Gordon. Gordon had been at Malcolm’s 90th birthday celebration, which appropriately enough was at the top of a hill.
This obituary has been compiled from various sources, especially Gordon’s solicitor Peter Pratt of Kerr Stirling LLP, by Keith F Wagstaff MRSC.
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