Neil Campbell

Background

He was born in Edinburgh on 29 August 1903 into a family of Edinburgh actuaries, and his early education was at George Watson’s College before studying Chemistry at Edinburgh University.

Education

He graduated Bachelor of Science in 1926 but then continued studies with a Doctor of Philosophy, receiving this in 1930.

Career

He served as Vice President of the Royal Society of Edinburgh from 1972 to 1975. He was connected closely to Edinburgh University for an outstanding 74 years of his life. After a brief period absent from Edinburgh (studying at Tubingen University in south-west Germany 1930/1) he returned to Edinburgh as a lecturer in Chemistry from the summer of 1931.

He became a Senior Lecturer in 1952 and a Professor in 1967.

He was a keen amateur runner and supporter of school athletics. At university he ran alongside Eric Liddell.

He served as Chairman of the Edinburgh Union of Boys Clubs. In 1962 he was elected President of the Watsonian Club (former pupils of George Watsons College).

He was a rugby referee (refereeing more than 600 matches), an official timekeeper at the 1958 Empire Games, and also on the Committee which set up the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1950, his proposers including Sir Edmund Hirst and Thomas Bolam. After many years of high level service became its Vice President in 1972. In 1983 he was awarded their Bicentenary Meda

In 1976 he was elected President of Edinburgh University’s Graduate Association.

The Neil Campbell Quaich is awarded to the best overall student sportsman or woman at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. They had two sons.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Royal Society of Edinburgh (1783-1983): The first two hundred years

    (VG condition book without dust jacket. Boards are clean w...)