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Bulletin

Obituary: John Murrell

Professor John Murrell FRS, a distinguished theoretical chemist, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Science), and three times Dean, has died at the age of 83.

John MurrellHe was born and educated in south London before studying at King’s College London and Cambridge. (His PhD supervisor, Christopher Longuet-Higgins FRS, later became a professor at Sussex.) He was then a Commonwealth Fund fellow in Chicago and a lecturer at Sheffield before coming to Sussex as professor in 1965.

His research at the interface between chemistry, physics and mathematics and his early experience proved to be an excellent basis from which to work in an innovative and interdisciplinary new university. John’s light-hearted account of this experience, published as the MOLS Book to mark the 50th anniversary of the University, is still available from Arundel 305, with all proceeds going to student support.

John was the author or co-author of several hundred research papers and under his leadership Sussex quickly became known as a centre of excellence in theoretical chemistry. He attracted high-quality co-workers including the future Nobel Laureate Sir Harry Kroto FRS and Sussex honorary graduate David Clary FRS, Provost of Magdalen College Oxford. Other graduates from his group have occupied influential positions throughout the world.

He refused invitations to become a full-time administrator as he saw teaching, research and running a department as a single integrated endeavour. This is shown in the books that he co-authored on the Electronic Spectra of Organic Molecules (1963), Valence Theory (i.e. how atoms combine) (1965), Molecular Orbital Theory (1972), the Chemical Bond (1978), the Properties of Liquids and Solutions (1982), Potential Energy Functions (1985), and Atomic and Molecular Collisions (1989).

Because they covered basic principles their relevance has lasted longer than that of many monographs describing only latest research results. He was always willing to talk with students in the tea queue and to help with their projects.

John’s achievements were recognised by the award of the Royal Society of Chemistry Meldola Medal and the Theoretical Chemistry Prize and appointment to the Faraday Council. He was elected to the Royal Society in 1991. He was a member of the Science and Engineering Research Council Science Board and, in 1992 and 1996, the University Funding Council Research Assessment Panel.

He was awarded an honorary degree by the University of Coimbra in 1993 and subsequently stole the show at Sussex degree ceremonies with his spectacular academic dress.

John was a keen squash and tennis player. He enjoyed fishing and played bowls. His most competitive 'sport’ was gardening. Each spring he supplied his colleagues with seedlings from his garden in Newtimber and each autumn with fruit. He played an active part in village life and was Clerk to the Parish Meeting.

He received numerous awards at local horticultural society shows and was much in demand as a speaker. His Royal Horticultural Society articles and book were always popular. He collected fungi and showed an alarming confidence in his ability to distinguish between dangerous and harmless varieties.

With his oncologist wife Shirley, to whom he was married for 61 years, John travelled widely, even to developing countries where conditions were primitive. They often visited Sussex alumni who were his former students.

Like any leader who gets things done, John could be impatient and ruffle feathers, but his commitment to the wellbeing and success of the University of Sussex was complete. In 2012 he was awarded a 50th Anniversary fellowship.

John is survived by Shirley, four children and 11 grandchildren. His daughter Ruth is a member of staff at Sussex and his granddaughter a student in the Brighton and Sussex Medical School.

The funeral will be private but there will be a memorial meeting at the University later.

Emeritus Professor Jim Hanson and Dr David Smith