Obituary: Professor Roy Geddes

Roy Geddes, my mothers cousin, figures strongly in my childhood memories despite the fact that he lived on the other side of the world in New Zealand. He was born and raised in Edinburgh and had emigrated by the time I was born. Yet when he returned to visit he brought not only his wonderful family but also his good humour and joy for all good things in life. We all missed that warmth of character when they went back home and now we miss him sorely all the more.
I include here his obituary from his University to record his other great contribution in his academic endeavours.

Professor Roy Geddes

Farewell: Professor Roy Geddes 1940 – 2006

Roy Geddes joined the Department of Biochemistry as a senior lecturer in 1970, following BSc Hons and PhD degrees in chemistry in Edinburgh, his birthplace, and postdoctoral fellowships in physical biochemistry at the Australian National University (1967-69), and at Georgetown University (Washington, DC, 1965-66).

In Auckland, he chose to use the techniques of physical biochemistry to investigate the structure and metabolism of glycogen, the energy storage polysaccharide. Though often envisaged as an amorphous and uninteresting polymer of glucose, the structure of glycogen contains a number of subtle features. Roy’s work provided very early evidence for the existence of a protein core, now known as glycogenin, within glycogen. His demonstration of separate metabolic pools, composed of structurally-distinguishable variants of glycogen, helped change our view of metabolic fluxes and metabolic control.

His work in this area was cited in one of the standard international biochemical textbooks (Principles of Biochemistry, Lehninger, Nelson and Cox, 2nd ed 1993, Worth). Roy was celebrated as a teacher, literally so, with an entry in A Pride of Academics (Dale, 1982, Auckland University Press). He made each lecture a performance, but a performance grounded in genuine enthusiasm, in knowledge of his subject, and in creative insight. His teaching specialties of physical biochemistry and metabolism can be either difficult or dull (or both) for the average student, but many remember Roy as inspirational, in spite of the inherent difficulties of his topics.

He is also fondly remembered by his biochemical colleagues for continuing to lecture extensively until the end of his University of Auckland career, despite increased involvement in administrative duties. Roy served as Deputy Dean of Science from 1982-85, and then as Dean from 1986-93. He was the last Dean to serve as the elected chair of the faculty, a very different role from that of more recent Deans. The process of leading academics has been likened to herding cats; nevertheless, Roy led the faculty very effectively.

He had his own vision, but was not blind to the visions of others. He understood that consensus usually meant compromise, which had to be worked at, and he was always prepared to do the work. In the interests of consistency, he also shouldered much of the burden of the academic counselling of students during his term as Dean.

His interest in science education was very broad; the New Zealand Science Summer School, intended to attract bright high school students back to science, was his initiative. At the other end of the spectrum of ability, he was involved in creating the Wellesley Programme, which evolved into the Tertiary Foundation Certificate. He is remembered with respect and affection by many faculty members who can recall that era.

In 1994, Roy transferred across Wellesley Street, to the Auckland Institute of Technology, as its Dean of Science and Engineering. During his term as Dean, his faculty acquired a new and impressive building, a Glycosciences Laboratory, close to Roy’s own research interests, was created within it, and AIT became AUT, a transformation to which Roy was a major contributor.

Almost from the start of his career in the administration of science education, Roy participated actively at the national and international levels. He was frequently consulted by MORST, and served on UNESCO committees as a New Zealand representative. His contributions to science and technology education were honoured, most notably by a Sesquicentennial Medal in 1990, by the Silver Medal of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 1999, and by the Companionship of the NZ Order of Merit in 2002.

Roy appreciated and supported the wider implications of the University community, both professionally and socially. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Staff Common Room, and responsible for introducing the strawberries and champagne function, a feature of the SCR calendar for many years. Roy retained a strong interest in most things Scottish, but was equally enthusiastic about the New Zealand lifestyle, wearing out a long series of barbecues over the years.

Roy and Estelle’s home on the North Shore became an oasis of culture (not necessarily Scottish) and hospitality for many of us. Roy retired in 2005, becoming the first Professor Emeritus appointed by AUT. He died on August 25, after a short illness.

Dr Ken Scott, School of Biological Sciences
from The University of Auckland News, 2006, no.19

http://web.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/about/news/publications/universitynews/issues/2006/19/people/farewell.cfm