Alumni memories
Alumni reflections and memories — stories and snapshots from those who helped shape Chemistry at Glasgow
Below you will find reminiscences and reflections from former students, staff, and friends of the School of Chemistry. From reunions and personal anecdotes to historical insights and forgotten laboratories, these memories form a living archive of our community’s shared journey.
Have a memory to share? We warmly welcome new contributions. Please email Professor Alan Cooper at alanc@chem.gla.ac.uk for more details.
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Chemistry through the centuries: personal reflections and insights
"Chemistry at the King's Garden" – Dr John S. Davidson
Dr Davidson (BSc Chemistry 1954, PhD 1959) traces the influence of 17th–19th century lectures and demonstrations at Le Jardin du Roi in Paris — a hub that helped modernise chemistry across Europe. His article introduces The Compleat Chymist (1677), a reprint of Christopher Glaser’s foundational chemistry text.
Annotations to Robert Boyle’s The Sceptical Chymist
To help students and enthusiasts navigate one of chemistry’s classic works, Dr Davidson also compiled detailed annotations to Robert Boyle’s The Sceptical Chymist. Written in the 17th century, this pivotal text marks a transition from alchemy to modern chemistry. Dr Davidson’s insights illuminate the historical language and context, making Boyle’s groundbreaking ideas more accessible to today’s readers.
"Some Memories from 1963–71" – Dr Donald MacKenzie
Former Alchemists Club President Dr MacKenzie recalls highlights from his student years, including lectures by Dr Magnus Pyke (“especially the whisky samples”), fascinating demonstrations in pattern recognition, and inspiring talks on penicillin and the origins of life.
Just a few memories of my time at GU. As ex President of the Alchemists Club, I recall excellent lectures by e.g. Dr Magnus Pyke on whisky production- particularly the samples: there were 6 samples on display, illustrating the main stages of production, but at the end some people thought there were only 2. He also worked on nutrition standards during the Second World War.
I also remember the Professor of Artificial Intelligence at Edinburgh University (you sometimes have to recognise contributions from the opposition) putting up an overhead slide of a spray pattern, overlaying it with a different spray pattern, rotating it, and producing amazing ordered patterns- nobody then or since has explained it.
Natural Product Chemistry I hope is still as strong: lectures on the structure of penicillin were excellent. I hope my Ph.D supervisor, Dr Cairns-Smith has another opportunity to present his view on the origins of life.
I hope you will celebrate the 550 Anniversary in good style - perhaps by inviting an equivalent of Magnus Pyke to elucidate the mysteries of whiskey or even Tennents lager.
Dr Donald MacKenzie, BSc & PhD alumnus
"Chemistry in Glasgow: 40 Years On" – Dr Winfried Willicks
Supported by the British Council, Dr Willicks undertook research in Glasgow from 1954–1956 under Dr Eric Clar, focusing on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. He recalls his thesis defense in 1959 and a memorable reunion dinner at The Ubiquitous Chip in 1994 to mark the 40th anniversary of his research start.
As a post graduate I was lucky that the British Council supplied sufficient funds for studies at Glasgow's Chemistry Dept, starting from May 6, 1954 til March 1956. My supervisor was Dr. Eric Clar. At that time polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was one of the main topics in Glasgow's Chemistry Dept. Clar and myself published several papers. Finally I presented a thesis for the degree of Ph.D. This was accepted and granted on April 18, 1959. I worked in the Henderson research lab., found many friends, among others Dr. William Kelly, now living in Olney/Buck. 1994 we met in Glasgow to celebrate my 40th anniversary of starting research work in Glasgow, visited the department and had an excellent dinner at the "Ubiquitous Chip."
Dr Winfried Willicks
Class reunions and anniversary events
BSc Chemistry 1970 Anniversary Reunion (2022)
The BSc Chemistry 1970 graduating class visited the School on 21st May 2022 having had to postpone their 50th anniversary reunion due to the Covid pandemic. Following a talk given by Joe Connolly, they were given an extensive tour of the Joseph Black Building and they also visited the James McCune Smith Building. They have been a very generous group to the institution having given the largest class reunion gift ever received by the Alumni Office.
Class of 1970 (2025)
In March 2025, we were delighted to welcome Gordon Cochrane, Bill Leeming and Mike Sutcliffe back to the School. They were representing the graduating class of 1970 who have sponsored a bench in the Connolly Laboratory. In addition, Gordon has very generously given a personal donation to support refurbishment of part of the building. Plaques to acknowledge these acts of generosity will make made up and the Class of 1970 invited back into the School at some point next year for an unveiling.
Class of 1955 – 50th Reunion (2005)
This milestone gathering marked five decades since graduation. For more information, please email Professor Joe Connolly at joec@chem.gla.ac.uk.
Class of 1942 – 60th Reunion (2002)
Held in June 2002, this special occasion included a visit to the Joseph Black Building — where the cohort had first studied in 1939 — followed by lunch at the University. Organised by Archie Clement.
Historical notes and archive gems
1860s Chemistry Laboratory Annuals
The GU Library’s Book of the Month (December 2001) spotlights Christmas “annuals” created in the 1860s by students in the Shuttle Street laboratories — complete with early photographs and humour from Glasgow’s young chemists.
Boyle, laughter and lab etiquette
An anonymous contributor offers this period insight:
Boyle’s laboratory positively bubbled with good humour when work was about to take place... all women were excluded for fear their irrational natures would influence the result.
Anonymous, quoted from An Instance of the Fingerpost by Ian Pears
Notable alumni
Our history is defined by the people who passed through our labs and lecture theatres.