I studied Biochemistry at Marischal College in 1996. I loved it. Two years ago, I heard the Professor John Fothergill had died. He was a professor of Crystallography. I have happy memories of him teaching us protein biochemistry and of his memorable large white beard. News of his death saddened me. I also liked Professor Jonathan Jeffery. He was very critical of poorly written scientific language and terminology.
In June 2021, I heard the Mr Alistair Cumming had died. I was deeply upset and gutted to hear of this news. I wish I had tried to contact him 15 years ago. Mr Cumming was very kind and encouraging during my 3rd and 4th year. He was very supportive towards students. He gave advice and guidance on genetics lab sessions, when I and a classmate, went to his office to pick his brain, which helped us a lot. I recall chats with him in the corridors of Marischal College, on chemistry and genetics. In my third year, 1995, April, he encouraged me to go away for a week’s windsurfing to Tiree with the club and then get back to hard work. I had been working very hard all third year and had got many firsts in course work.
About 15 years ago at an Alumni meeting in Edinburgh, a senior university administrator, name unknown, was very rude about Mr Cumming, describing him as “crap”. I was shocked. He obviously didn’t know the man. I learnt from Professor Alan Hamilton that Mr Cumming wasn’t a research scientist, but a technician. Maybe that administrator thought Mr Cumming was a research scientist who hadn’t published much. Mr Cumming was very kind to us undergraduates and very supportive and encouraging. I regret not contacting him 15 years ago, especially as I have been struggling with my Asperger diagnosis for 20 years and a career struggle for 20 years. Mr Cumming might have had helpful suggestions to help my career. After I left the university, he never heard from me again.
