Research chemist; Born March 29, 1922, Died December 18, 2007. John Dolan, who has died aged 85, was a chemist who early in his career investigated the cancer-causing effects of tobacco and went on to become a leading name in the explosives industry.

Research chemist; Born March 29, 1922, Died December 18, 2007.

John Dolan, who has died aged 85, was a chemist who early in his career investigated the cancer-causing effects of tobacco and went on to become a leading name in the explosives industry.

Born in Carlisle, he received a secondary education at St Joseph's College, Dumfries, and graduated with an honours degree in physical chemistry from Glasgow University in 1943. He served in the Royal Corps of Signals in North Africa achieving the wartime rank of lieutenant-colonel.

After leaving the army in 1947 he undertook research on the potential carcinogenic effects of cigarette smoke at Glasgow University's chemistry department.

From 1948 to 1963 Dolan was a research chemist for ICI's Nobel Explosives Company (NEC), based at Ardeer in Ayrshire, and became well-known in the mining industry for his work in improving the safety of explosives and as a result was admitted to the Institute of Mining Engineers.

His outgoing personality led to NEC transferring him from research to marketing, where he achieved great success, both in the overseas and UK markets.

He was awarded the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal for service to industry in 1977 and became director for a number of ICI subsidiary companies, including Irish Industrial Explosives and Ulster Industrial Explosives.

He was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) in 1988; to the society's council of the industrial division; and also as chairman of the Nobel Heritage Committee.

He was one of the first to recognise the need for the explosives industry to present a united front to the EU, and was instrumental in setting up the Federation of European Explosive Manufacturers (FEEM), with whom he worked tirelessly to improve safety legislation as secretary general from 1976 to 1993.

In his private life he was actively involved in the parish of St Peter in Chains in Ardrossan, and participated in activities ranging from film-making to construction of the church hall.

As an active hillwalker, Dolan loved the Lake District and the Galloway Hills, and was also a keen yachtsman who was often to be seen on the Clyde with his wife, May, aboard the Traumerei, a ketch. It was a great wrench for him to give it up at the age of 80.

Music evenings held by Friends of the Plantation, an organisation that stimulated the rejuvenation of the Holm Plantation, in Ardrossan, are now to be known as the John Dolan Memorial Concerts.

Dolan married Margaret O'Connor (1923-1959) and together they had three children: Michael, Christopher and Brian. After the death of Margaret he remarried May Mathews, who died in June 1999.

Dolan is survived by his sons, Christopher and Brian, and two grandchildren, John and Laura.