Ralston andrew lawrie (1924-2007): an appreciation.

Ralston Lawrie was born in Paisley in 1924 and although he left Scotland in 1949, on meeting him no one could have any doubts as to where he had spent his formative years. After attending Paisley Grammar School he entered Glasgow University in 1941. He initially planned to study medicine but decided this was not the profession for him which is a little surprising since he already had handwriting which most doctors take years to develop. From 1944 to 1947 he spent time working in the food and pharmaceutical industries before returning to Glasgow University in 1947 to complete a degree in physiological chemistry, which he was awarded, with first class honours, in 1948. In 1949 he migrated south to take up a post in the Scientific Civil Service. For the next 15 years he worked at the Low Temperature Research Station. University of Cambridge, being awarded a Ph.D from that University in 1952. During this time he rapidly developed an international reputation as an innovative and productive research worker and was seconded to the CSIRO Meat Research Laboratory, in Brisbane, Australia for three years from 1953 to 1956. I worked in Brisbane myself about ten years later and he was still remembered with a great deal of respect and affection by all his excolleagues. As well as the excellence of his research output his personality had made a lasting impression. Though invariably courteous and polite, whether walking, talking or working Ralston had only two speeds fast and very fast and in a typical Brisbane summer these speeds were not conducive to comfort. Thus their abiding memory was of an immaculately dressed character, in his trademark lab coat, mopping his brow as he went about his duties, exchanging pleasantries and giving them the benefit of his dry humour.