Chesters, Charles Geddes Coull (1904-1993: science graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland)

Charles Geddes Coull Chesters was born in Glasgow on the 9 March 1904 . His father Charles was a commercial traveller. After studying at Hyndland School in Glasgow, Charles Geddes Coull Chesters matriculated at the University of Glasgow in 1922 , at the age of eighteen. He graduated with a BSc honours in Botany in 1926 , receiving a first class degree. During his time at University he took classes in Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology and Geology. He was awarded a credible mention in the 1923 Botany prize list, a second class certificate in Zoology in 1923, a second class certificate in Geology in1923-1924, and in 1925 he won the Herbarium Prize for a herbarium comprising 600 specimens. The thesis he submitted for his honours BSc degree was entitled Stratiotes Aloides: Studies in the Laboratory and the Field .

At Birmingham University he studied for an MSc and PhD, which was awarded in 1937. He also worked as an Assistant Lecturer in Botany in 1927, and was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 1937. During the war he was appointed Chief Air Raid Warden for the University of Birmingham and became a part-time constable, for which he was later awarded commendations for Air Raid Incidents and the Police Long Service Medal. He was promoted to a Readership in Mycology in 1942 at the University of Birmingham. In 1944 he took up residence in University College Nottingham as Professor of Botany and Head of Department of Botany. He held this post until his retirement in 1969 and was an important, and well respected member of staff.

Chesters was also active in the British Association for the Advancement of Science and a Founder Fellow of the Institute of Biology. He was also a Fellow of the Linnean Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He was awarded an OBE in 1977 for sevices to education. He died on 13 February 1993 . A commemorative bust can be found in the Biology Building at Nottingham University.

Source: http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/fellowship/obits/obits_alpha/chesters_charles.pdf

From the guide to the Papers of Professor Charles Geddes Coull Chesters, 1904-1993, science graduate, University of Glasgow, Scotland, 1926, (Glasgow University Archive Services)