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John Richard Pentland

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John Richard Pentland CChem Mſapp

25 June 1932 — 29 September 2025

John Pentland smiling to camera in suit, shirt and tie

John was born on the 25 June 1932 in Wallington Surrey but moved with his family to South Wales following the outbreak of WW2. He attended Pontypridd Grammar School and later went on to Cardiff University to study Chemistry. He became a member of the ſapp in 1960.

On graduation in 1953, John was recruited by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority. The UKAEA was newly established at the time to spearhead the development of the country’s nuclear power industry. He initially worked at the Reactor Materials Laboratory in Culcheth near Warrington, a government metallurgical and nuclear research institute. It was an exciting time.

A quote from a booklet entitled The History of Culcheth states “the boffins worked there, it was very much hush-hush” and indeed all employees and their spouses were required to sign the Official Secrets Act. John worked at both Culcheth and Risley labs until 1990, during which time he authored or co-authored over forty scientific publications. Towards the end of his career, he worked in the editorial department of the UKAEA as a technical editor, a role he continued into retirement.

John always retained a keen interest in the Atomic Energy Authority and its legacy into the future, chairing monthly meetings of the retirement group who met at the ‘DATEN’ Sports and Social Club to put the world, and its associated misinformation about Culcheth and Risley labs, to rights.

He was happily married for 67 years and sadly died aged 93 on the 29 September 2025 following a short illness.

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