Flowers, B. H. (Brian Hilton), 1924-2010

Baron Flowers of Queen's Gate in the City of Westminster, b. 1924 (physics). Worked at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, in the Nuclear Physics and Theoretical Physics Divisions (1946-1950); University of Birmingham (1950-1952); head of Theoretical Physics Division, Harwell (1952-1958); University of Manchester professor of Theoretical Physics (1958-1961) and then Langworthy Professor of Physics and head of the Department (1961-1967); chairman of the Science Research Council (1967-1972); rector of Imperial College of Science and Technology, London (1973-1985); vice-chancellor of the University of London (1985-1990); chancellor of the University of Manchester (1994- ). Flowers played an active role in public life from the the 1960s, frequently acting as chairman of committees and other bodies. Flowers was elected FRS in 1961. He was knighted in 1969 and made a life peer in 1979.

Born Blackburn, Lancashire, 1924; educated at Bishop Gore Grammar School, Swansea; read physics and electronics at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge; joined the Anglo-Canadian Atomic Energy Project in Canada, at the University of Montreal, 1944, and Chalk River, Ontario, 1945; joined the Nuclear Physics Division of the Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Harwell, 1946; working on the measurement of the thermal cross-section of tritium and devising a method of measuring the photodisintegration of the deuteron; transferred to the Theoretical Physics Division at Harwell, 1948, undertaking work on nuclear reactions; conducted research at the Department of Mathematical Physics, University of Birmingham, 1950-1952, working largely on problems of nuclear structure relating to the nuclear shell model, in collaboration with AR Edmonds; awarded a DSc by the University of Birmingham, 1953; Head of the Theoretical Physics Division at Harwell, 1952; Chief Research Scientist, 1958; Professor of Theoretical Physics, University of Manchester, 1958; elected Fellow of the Royal Society, 1961; Langworthy Professor of Physics and Head of Department, 1961-1972; member of the Advisory Council on Scientific Policy, 1962-1964, and Council for Scientific Policy, 1965-1967; Chairman of the Computer Board for Universities and Research Councils, 1966-1970; knighted, 1969; Chairman of the Science Research Council (SRC), 1967-1975, ensuring United Kingdom participation in the 300 GeV project at CERN and the SRC's establishment and development of the Engineering Board; Rector of Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, 1973-1985; President of the Institute of Physics, 1972-1974, and the European Science Foundation, 1974-1980; Chairman of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, 1973-1976, and the Standing Commission on Energy and the Environment, 1978-1981; life peer (Baron Flowers of Queen's Gate in the City of Westminster), 1979; founder member of the Social Democratic Party, 1981; front bench spokesman on issues relating to science, education, energy and the environment until 1989; Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, 1983-1985; Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, 1985-1990; Chairman of the Nuffield Foundation, 1987-1998; Chairman of the House of Lords Select Committee on Science and Technology, 1989-1993; President of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, 1993-1997; Chancellor of the University of Manchester, 1994.

Publications: On the Fast Neutron Cross Sections, etc, (Harwell, 1949); Properties of Matter, (Wiley, Chichester,1970), with Eric Mendoza; An Introduction to Numerical Methods in C++, 1995; various articles for scientific periodicals.