Teacher, academic and biochemist at Heriot-Watt
Born: March 31, 1928;
Died: October 16, 2017
PROFESSOR David John Manners, who has died aged 89, was a distinguished teacher, academic and biochemist known for his research into the chemical composition of carbohydrates. He was a professor of biochemistry at Heriot-Watt College, now Heriot-Watt University.
He was born on March 31, 1928 at Castleford in Yorkshire to George and Gwendoline Manners and had a happy childhood with his brother Norman. He attended Castleford Grammar School where he achieved his Higher school certificate and a county major scholarship which took him to Fitzwilliam House, Cambridge University, from 1946 to1952. At Cambridge he gained a first class degree in the natural sciences.
After completing his PhD in biochemistry at Cambridge, he began his academic career in 1952 as a lecturer then reader in chemistry at Edinburgh University where he worked with Sir Edmund Hurst, the distinguished carbohydrate chemist.
In 1965 he became professor of biochemistry in the Department of Brewing and Biochemistry, Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh, now Heriot-Watt University. Although a biochemist whose research was based on the chemical composition of carbohydrates, he developed the biological side of the department and remained professor of biochemistry and head of department when the department became brewing and biological sciences and Heriot-Watt College became Heriot-Watt University.
Professor Manners published more than 150 scientific publications including a small book called Brewing and Biological Sciences at Heriot-Watt University 1904-1989. His clarity with words and his expertise in carbohydrate research led him to a wide range of editorial work for scientific journals such as Biochemical Journal, Carbohydrate Research, Carbohydrate Polymers, Journal of Cereal Science and Journal of the Institute of Brewing.
He was a consultant at the Brewing Research Foundation in Surrey, England. His input on the chemistry of starch and the gums of the cell walls of cereals such as barley and wheat helped the foundation to improve the processing of cereals during brewing and distilling.
Other work relating to science, education and industry includes being external referee of grant applications for various scientific institutions. He was also a member of the Research and Development Committees of the Potato Marketing Board (Inveresk Research International) and the Carnegie and Caledonian Research Scholarship Awards.
Professor Manners supervised the research work of a large number of Ph.D and M.Sc. students. He was Professor Emeritus of Heriot-Watt University and had both DSc. and Sc.D degrees and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Fellow of the Institute of Biology and a member of the Institute of Brewing for many years.
In contrast to his scientific work, Professor Manners had a keen interest in trains and stamp collecting.
Professor Manners is survived by his wife Gweneth, brother Norman, children Stephen and Judith, six grandchildren and one great grandchild.
GEOFF PALMER
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