Electronic Precinct - Nov 1997

Dennis Gordon Tompkins

Dennis Gordon Tompkins was born on December 5 1906 and died on August 21 1997 at the age of 90. After retiring at the age of 65 from a successful career in the petrochemical industry, and enjoying two years of active retirement, Mr Tompkins enrolled for a PhD degree in the Veterinary Faculty at Lea hurst, under the supervision of Dr W N Beasley, studying the deposition and movement of insecticides in the fleece of sheep. He successfully completed his degree in 1977 at the age of 71 thereby becoming the oldest person ever to gain a PhD within the Faculty and within the University. Bill Beasley has called him 'a tremendous person' and 'a quite outstanding PhD student'. His lively manner, his approach to research and his vast multi-disciplinary knowledge were of benefit to those with whom he has contact as well as in his own work. He exemplified the maxim 'It's never too late' to those at Leahurst whose paths crossed his.

Dr Tompkins is survived by his wife Muriel, two children, six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Future academia should certainly benefit if his genes for tenacity and scientific skill have been passed to succeeding generations.