Norman Sheppard. 16 May 1921—10 April 2015

Abstract

Norman Sheppard was an exceptional man as scientist, teacher and administrator, but he was also kind, generous, honourable and extremely modest. He was the international expert on the application of vibrational spectroscopy to molecular structure, in solids, on surfaces, in solution and in the gas phase. One significant feature of his science was that he was always on the lookout for new developments in spectroscopy to apply to chemical structure (e.g. NMR, RAIRS, EELS). Always passionate about expanding higher education opportunities, he moved from Cambridge in 1964—as Professor of Chemical Physics—to help Professor Alan Katritzky (FRS) found the chemistry department at the new University of East Anglia. He was heavily involved in national and international matters: council member of the Royal Society; president of the Faraday Division of the Royal Society of Chemistry; member of the Infrared and Raman Discussion Group and first chairman of the NMR Discussion Group; member of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and several of its committees. His early work in two major areas of spectroscopy was very important in underpinning their use in chemical analysis, central to industry and forensic science. He was a devoted family man. In his spare time he was fascinated by architecture, nature and photography. Latterly he became interested in the science–religion debate and the philosophy of science.