Christopher Harrold FRSC

27 June 1926 - 16 October 2018

Christopher Phillimore Harrold went up to Oxford in 1944. He won a scholarship to New College. He graduated in 1948 with an MA in Research Biochemistry.   

He met first wife Peggy, a research assistant, at the Radcliffe Infirmary, marrying in 1951.   

Chris was elected Fellow of the Chemical Society, Associate of the Institute of Chemistry, Member of the Society of Chemical Industry, becoming a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and Chartered Chemist.   

He went into management at Thomas Hedley & Co., part of Proctor & Gamble, becoming Department Manager at their Manchester factory.   

In 1953, Chris worked as a senior research chemist for P&G in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, publishing a number of scientific papers, being one of the first in the world to measure the limiting thickness of black soap films.   

In 1967, he began work at P&G's West Thurrock factory, where he became responsible for Fairy Liquid production. 

Chris's other interests were varied: local councillor; co-founder of the Hexham Festival; patron of Thurrock Local History Society; and writer of histories about the places where he lived.   

He was Life Member of the Heraldry Society, contributing the Essex section to the multi-volume    Hatchments In Britain.   

An adept violinist, Chris established the Thurrock Concert Orchestra, also playing with the Essex Philharmonic. He was chair of both Thurrock Choral Society and Thurrock Arts Council, and President of Thurrock Chess Club. 

Chris married his second wife Sandria in 2000. He was foster father, adoptive father, step-father, and guardian. Chris's coat of arms contains a Benzine ring representing a life in chemistry, and the motto, "Suffer Little Children". 

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