A fond farewell to a perfect
gentleman
John Henry Weber —
the first Member to receive the Distinguished Service Award
John Henry Weber, born 30 January 1908, died peacefully on
9 January 2005, three weeks short of his 97th birthday.
He came to Bristol, in his own words ‘with tin-helmet
and gas-mask’ in 1941 to take an analyst post with Imperial
Tobacco. His first work was to look for arsenic in tobacco,
at that time the only hint of danger in tobacco. In 1957 he
became Head of the Analytical Laboratory, a post he held until
he retired in 1968.
John joined SCI on 13 December 1957, apparently the main
reason for which was ‘to get a regular copy of Chemistry
& Industry, fondly known as “Bluebits”’.
He became an SCI Life Member on 30 January 1968 and from that
time became an active Member of the Bristol Regional Group.
He was a Committee Member from 1968–71 and then became
the Hon Treasurer for the next 20 years, a record for the
Regional Group. He then continued as a Committee Member from 1992–95.
As a result of this distinguished and sustained service to
the Regional Group he was awarded the Distinguished Service Award.
On 21 January 2001, the Chairman of Council, Derek Heywood,
at a ceremony held before a lecture meeting in Bristol, made
John the first person to receive this award.
At his funeral on 19 January 2005 his life was celebrated
by a large congregation, including representatives of the
SCI Bristol & South West Regional Group. The Regional Group has lost
a good friend and staunch supporter. He will be remembered
as a perfect gentleman.
Raymond Holland,
Chairman,
SCI Bristol & South West Regional Group
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