Part 2 (Obituaries) - King's College - University of Cambridge

In 1955 Seddon married Naomi, whom he had met at university.The couple
came to Cambridge where Seddon had obtained a Shell Scholarship to
undertake further research at King’s, ultimately being awarded a further PhD
in Industrial Chemistry.The years in Cambridge saw the birth of Gwyn, the
couple’s first daughter, and Seddon becaming a keen rower.
The family returned to South Africa in 1958 where Seddon joined the AECI
research laboratories at Modderfontein, and two further daughters were
born. However, in 1963 Seddon was transferred to ICI at Milbank, ICI being
a major shareholder in AECI, and the family returned to the UK, living in
Bromley. He worked in London until 1967 when he returned to AECI in
Johannesburg, firstly as Chemical Division Manager, then Research Manager
and finally Technical Manager. He retired in 1983.
The Harrisons decided to move to Stellenbosch, where Seddon joined the
Chemical Engineering Department at the University. He headed the
department for 10 years, lecturing in Afrikaans, in which he was fluent. A
religious man, he served as Warden in the Anglican Church at Stellenbosch
for many years. He and Naomi also enjoyed playing tennis.
Seddon then retired again, this time to St James in Cape Town. Shortly after
the move he began lecturing part-time at the University of Cape Town,
continuing until shortly before his death. During a distinguished
professional and academic career spanning half a century, Seddon was
elected a Fellow of the Institute of Chemical Engineering (London) and a
Fellow of the South African Institute of Chemical Engineering, of which he
was also a past President. Whilst in Cape Town Seddon played, and also
coached, bowls. He read widely and was interested in classical music and
languages, adding Russian, Portuguese and a smattering of Japanese to the
Latin and Greek he had learnt at school. Seddon had a brilliant mind, was
extremely caring, had a highly developed sense of responsibility and was
devoted to his family. He died from cancer on 4 May 2004.
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OBITUARIES