Alec Merrison
Encyclopedia
Sir Alexander Walter Merrison FRS, was a British
physicist
born in Wood Green
, London on 20 March 1924. He was a professor in Experimental Physics at Liverpool University and the first Director of the new Daresbury Nuclear Physics Laboratory
. He later became Vice-Chancellor of University of Bristol
.
and subsequently Enfield Grammar School
, before going on to King's College London
(which had been evacuated to Bristol during the Second World War
) graduating B.Sc. with First Class Honours in 1944.
, developing among the earliest neutron spectrometers. Leaving Harwell in 1951 for the University of Liverpool
he was Leverhulme Fellow and Lecturer (Ph.D. 1957), beginning ten years of research on elementary particle physics, using newly-developed proton synchrotron machines. Senior Physicist at CERN
(the European Organization for Nuclear Research) from 1957-1960, subsequently Merrison was Chair in Experimental Physics at Liverpool from 1960 until 1969. In 1962 he was also first Director of the new Daresbury Nuclear Physics Laboratory (officially opened in 1967), responsible for the construction of the 5 GeV electron synchrotron NINA
.
In 1969 Merrison left Liverpool, appointed Vice-Chancellor of University of Bristol
serving until 1984, presiding over many changes in University structure and funding, overseeing considerable expansion in size, toward the end of his tenure making controversial reductions in some departments as government reduced its funding of universities.
Other public responsibilities included Chair of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals 1979-1981, and the Chair of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils 1978-1983, succeeding Sir Frederick Stewart. Internationally, his association with CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) resulted in his being made President of the CERN Council in 1982. He served to 1985 and his presidency saw Spain rejoining the project and he campaigned to retain UK membership of CERN. He was active in the general life of Bristol, serving as a Governor of the Bristol Old Vic theatre and was involvements including the Bristol Evening Post and Bristol Waterworks Company.
On retirement from Bristol University, Merrison became a Director of Lloyd's Bank and Chairman of its Western Regional Board. He was also Chairman of the Western Provident Association.
in 1969 and knighted in 1976. He received honorary degrees from a number of universities including Bristol, Bath and Liverpool and was appointed High Sheriff of Avon for 1986-1987.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
physicist
Physicist
A physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
born in Wood Green
Wood Green
Wood Green is a district in north London, England, located in the London Borough of Haringey. It is situated north of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of the metropolitan centres in Greater London.-History:...
, London on 20 March 1924. He was a professor in Experimental Physics at Liverpool University and the first Director of the new Daresbury Nuclear Physics Laboratory
Daresbury Laboratory
Daresbury Laboratory is a scientific research laboratory near Daresbury in Cheshire, England, which began operations in 1962 and was officially opened on 16 June 1967 as the Daresbury Nuclear Physics Laboratory by the then Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Harold Wilson...
. He later became Vice-Chancellor of University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
.
Education
Alec Merrison initially attended Tottenham Grammar SchoolTottenham Grammar School
Tottenham Grammar School was a renowned grammar school in North London, with local football connections.-History:A Tottenham Grammar School had existed for centuries...
and subsequently Enfield Grammar School
Enfield Grammar School
Enfield Grammar School is a boys' comprehensive school in Enfield Town in the London Borough of Enfield in north London.-History:Enfield Grammar School was founded on the 25th. May 1558...
, before going on to King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
(which had been evacuated to Bristol during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
) graduating B.Sc. with First Class Honours in 1944.
Career
Merrison's was first appointed as an Experimental Officer working on radar at the Signal Research and Development Establishment, Christchurch, Hampshire 1944-1946. In 1946 he joined the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, as Senior Scientific Officer commencing research in nuclear physicsNuclear physics
Nuclear physics is the field of physics that studies the building blocks and interactions of atomic nuclei. The most commonly known applications of nuclear physics are nuclear power generation and nuclear weapons technology, but the research has provided application in many fields, including those...
, developing among the earliest neutron spectrometers. Leaving Harwell in 1951 for the University of Liverpool
University of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
he was Leverhulme Fellow and Lecturer (Ph.D. 1957), beginning ten years of research on elementary particle physics, using newly-developed proton synchrotron machines. Senior Physicist at CERN
CERN
The European Organization for Nuclear Research , known as CERN , is an international organization whose purpose is to operate the world's largest particle physics laboratory, which is situated in the northwest suburbs of Geneva on the Franco–Swiss border...
(the European Organization for Nuclear Research) from 1957-1960, subsequently Merrison was Chair in Experimental Physics at Liverpool from 1960 until 1969. In 1962 he was also first Director of the new Daresbury Nuclear Physics Laboratory (officially opened in 1967), responsible for the construction of the 5 GeV electron synchrotron NINA
NINA (accelerator)
-Introduction:Given government UK approval in 1962, NINA was a 70.19m, 4 GeV electron Synchrotron built in 1964 at the Daresbury Laboratory site in Cheshire, England to study particle physics...
.
In 1969 Merrison left Liverpool, appointed Vice-Chancellor of University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
serving until 1984, presiding over many changes in University structure and funding, overseeing considerable expansion in size, toward the end of his tenure making controversial reductions in some departments as government reduced its funding of universities.
Other activities
Merrison combined his Vice-Chancellorship with numerous other public responsibilities, including service on government committees. In 1970 he was appointed Chair of the Committee of Inquiry into the design and creation of steel box girder bridges (reporting in 1973). In 1973 he became Chair of the Committee of Inquiry into the Regulation of the Medical Profession (reporting in 1975) whose recommendations were largely incorporated in the 1978 Medical Practitioners Act. In 1978 Merrison was appointed under the chairmanship of H. Bondi to the Severn Barrage Committee established by the Department of Energy to advise government to assess the advantages and disadvantages of a 'scheme for harnessing the tidal energy of the Severn Estuary.' Its 1981 report was favourable. In 1976 Merrison was appointed Chair of the Royal Commission into the National Health Service (reporting in 1979) and though initially certain of its key recommendations were resisted, later a number formed the basis of NHS reform.Other public responsibilities included Chair of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals 1979-1981, and the Chair of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils 1978-1983, succeeding Sir Frederick Stewart. Internationally, his association with CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) resulted in his being made President of the CERN Council in 1982. He served to 1985 and his presidency saw Spain rejoining the project and he campaigned to retain UK membership of CERN. He was active in the general life of Bristol, serving as a Governor of the Bristol Old Vic theatre and was involvements including the Bristol Evening Post and Bristol Waterworks Company.
On retirement from Bristol University, Merrison became a Director of Lloyd's Bank and Chairman of its Western Regional Board. He was also Chairman of the Western Provident Association.
Death
Merrison died on 19 February 1989. He was survived by his second wife, Maureen, Lady Merrison, with whom he had a son and a daughter. He had two sons from his first marriage with first wife Beryl who died in 1968.Honours
Merrison received the Institute of Physics' Charles Vernon Boys Prize for 1961 for his work on the measurement of electron decay. He was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal SocietyRoyal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1969 and knighted in 1976. He received honorary degrees from a number of universities including Bristol, Bath and Liverpool and was appointed High Sheriff of Avon for 1986-1987.