Discussion journal of the Mössbauer Community

[Frank Berry <f.j.berry AT open.ac.uk>]

Dr Alfred Maddock

Alfred Maddock, known to his friends and colleagues as Alfie, was born 
near London in 1917. He was a graduate of The University of London where 
he studied for his PhD degree with Professor H J Emeleus. From 1939 to 
1945 he worked on the atomic energy Tube Alloys Project. His academic 
career was spent in The University of Cambridge. He had a broad range of 
scientific interests including the chemistry of the actinide elements 
particularly plutonium and protactinium, the chemistry associated with 
nuclear transformation, solvent extraction, radiation of inorganic solids, 
the chemistry of positronium ions, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. He was one 
of the pioneers of the chemical applications of Mössbauer spectroscopy in 
the UK during the 1960's and was a leader in the use of exotic nuclei such 
as gold, tungsten and iridium for examining structure and bonding in 
inorganic compounds. He published over 300 papers.

He was consultant to the International Atomic Energy Agency and to atomic 
energy projects in various countries. He developed very strong links 
overseas especially in South America. His achievements were recognised by 
his title of Doctor of Science and Reader in Radiochemistry in The 
University of Cambridge, Doctor of Science Honoris Causa in University of 
Louvain Belgium, Gra-Cruz da Ordem Nacional do Merito Cientifico Brazil, 
and the recipient of the Becquerel Medal of The Royal Society of 
Chemistry.

Those of us who were privileged to work with Alfie found him to be a most 
stimulating scientist. He held in his mind what appeared to be an 
encyclopaedic scientific knowledge which, when coupled with a rare gift of 
scientific intuition, rendered Alfie an exceptionally imaginative and 
innovative scientist. Despite these qualities Alfie remained very modest 
about his scientific achievements.

Apart from his scientific insight which underpinned his relationship with 
his students and workers Alfie will be remembered as a most warm, generous 
and wonderful character. He was a real lover of life, especially good food 
and wine, he and his wife Margaret will be remembered by many of us for 
many memorable evenings at their home in Cambridge. He and Margaret 
enjoyed opportunities to travel the world and developed friends and 
interests across many countries and continents.

Alfie was a most humane person who was held with affection by many people. 
This was reflected at his retirement when over one hundred former research 
students, workers and collaborators from all over the world gathered for a 
weekend in Cambridge to commemorate his career.

Alfie remained active in science after retirement. Regrettably ill health, 
which he faced with great courage, curtailed many areas of happiness in 
the last few years of his life yet the author of this article enjoyed a 
good scientific exchange with Alfie just a couple of months before he died 
on 5th April 2009, just short of his ninety second birthday.

Alfie Maddock enjoyed a full, rich and varied life in science and with his 
family and friends. He was an inspired scientist with a love of life and a 
warm and memorable character which enriched the lives of so many of us who 
were privileged to have worked with him.


Frank Berry
10th April 2009