FORMER colleagues have paid tribute to chemist Dr David Brown, who has died aged 72.

Dr Brown, a father-of-two from Chilton, near Didcot, worked at the Atomic Energy Research Establishment near Harwell for 34 years, where he studied the chemistry of actinides and lanthanides, a relatively new field when he joined in 1960.

Former colleague Kate Glover, 85, from Reading, paid tribute to Dr Brown’s “outstanding” work.

She said: “David achieved international recognition for his work and collaborated with laboratories in the UK and overseas.

Dr Brown, who grew up in Yorkshire, published many papers in international journals, and wrote or contributed to books and authoritative texts on his subjects.

Mrs Glover said: “David was a determined and dedicated scientist and will be remembered for his very significant contribution to the chemistry of, in particular protactinium, but also of the actinides and lanthanides.

“He and I were always good friends. To other people he was a rather fearsome boss, but he and I never fell out. I remember him fondly.”

Alec Inns, who also worked with Dr Brown at Harwell, added: “He was a determined, dedicated scientist.

“A lot of scientists are boffins, but he wasn’t your typical boffin. He was an interesting character. He loved Yorkshire and cricket.”

Dr Brown is survived by wife Dr Rita Brown and two sons.

His wife, Rita, 71, said: “We had a very happy marriage, “David was a Yorkshireman, very down to earth. He suffered fools very badly and he was a man of few words. I loved him to bits.”