Tom Rhymes

12 June 1948 to 24 October 2000

Tom first came to this School in 1973 on a Rotary Overseas Scholarship to study for his PhD in the Electron Physics Group, now part of the Atomic and Molecular Physics Laboratories. After some time teaching and working in the USA, Tom returned in 1984 as an Electronics Engineer in the Physics Electronics Unit. Tom was a natural leader becoming the Head of this Unit in 1990. Much of the character, technology and working environment in the Unit during this period resulted from Tom’s skills, guidance and example.

A School restructure in 1997 expanded Tom’s role to managing all the School Central Services. A position he held until his untimely death at lunchtime doing what he enjoyed most, running with a friend.

Many in the Electronics Unit, the School and the wider community benefited from Tom’s knowledge abilities and especially his generosity both in time and resources.

In 2008 the Research School established, with the generous assistance of Dr Rosalie Grant, a technical development award to celebrate the life of Dr Tom Rhymes.