Dr William Charlie Geddes

1938 - 2016

Charlie Geddes was born in Buckie in the North East of Scotland and brought up on a farm a couple of miles from there in Tynet. He went to Aberdeen University to study Chemistry in 1955 having just turned 17. In addition to his studies he was goalkeeper for the University football team and secretary of the sports union. With a first class honours degree he was encouraged to go on to do a PhD on the study of isotactic polymers. In 1963 he joined the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC). In the same year he took up a post as a research scientist at RAPRA in Shawbury working on such projects as PVC degradation. Keen to return to Scotland he took a job with Nairn-Williamson in Kirkcaldy working on the development of cushioned vinyl and linoleum floor coverings.

In 1970 he joined the young Napier College as its first ever full-time lecturer in polymer technology. Building on the existing City and Guilds courses taught by part-time lecturers from local industry, Charlie developed the Certificate in Polymer Technology, a 1-year full-time + 1-year part-time course for technicians on the Technicians Award Scheme an initiative funded by the training levy. As Napier College grew Charlie played his part in the development of several new degree courses and especially the BSc Hons Applied Chemistry course with its specialism in Polymer Science and Technology. Other courses came along later including HNC Polymer Technology; MSc Plastics Moulding Technology, all of which Charlie was Course Leader for at some time. In 1981 he was admitted to Member (MRSC) and awarded Chartered Status (CChem).

In 1971 he joined the then Plastics Institute which in 1975 merged into the Plastics and Rubber Institute (PRI) and he was elected a Fellow in 1984. In 1996 he took early retirement from full time employment but continuing part-time consultancy work and freelance teaching.  He really enjoyed this and also was able to dedicate more time to helping with the running of the Scottish Plastics and Rubber Association (SPRA) as Honorary Secretary until 2014.

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