Peter Chadwick. 23 March 1931—12 August 2018

Abstract

Peter Chadwick studied mathematics as an undergraduate at the University of Manchester, graduating with first-class honours in 1952, from where he moved to Cambridge and completed a PhD on the thermal history of the Earth in the Department of Geodesy and Geophysics under the supervision of Dr Robert Stoneley. His research then developed to focus primarily on the propagation of waves, and he made a major contribution to the mathematical theory of elastic wave propagation and became a world-leading authority in this area. He also made fundamental advances in the modelling of the thermo-elastic properties of rubberlike materials. At the University of East Anglia, where he was a professor for 26 years, he was the driving force behind the development of a research group in theoretical mechanics in the School of Mathematics and Physics, leading by example and supporting and encouraging fellow faculty members, especially the younger staff, academic visitors and students. He gave considerable service to the University of East Anglia in a number of capacities, including a period as Dean of the School, and to the scientific community, through substantial journal editorial activities and as a member of several national and international committees.