Prof. Leonard V. Evans (Len) passed away on 30th December 2023 at the age of 86.
Originally from Cardigan, Mid Wales, Len came to Bangor to study Botany and Marine Botany. He gained his PhD for his work on the cytogenetics of seaweeds in 1959 at the Marine Science Laboratories of Bangor University, based in Menai Bridge.
After completing his PhD thesis under the supervision of Dr Eifion Jones, he was invited to take up a lecturing post at Leeds University. At Leeds, he led a large research group funded by the research councils and industry to study plant biochemistry, how marine organisms adhere to ships and the development of technologies to prevent this. During his time there he successfully supervised 26 PhD students and published some 200 peer reviewed research papers. For this work he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science by the University of Wales, Cardiff in 1977.
Len joined The University of Buckingham as Professor of Life Sciences in 1992 and, in 2004, took on the role of Registrar where he set up collaborations between the University and other higher education institutions worldwide, notably with the European School of Economics. During this time, the University of Buckingham experienced a remarkable transformation, with an increase in the institution’s reputation, an improvement in finances and a sharp rise in student numbers. There is no doubt amongst his former colleagues that Len was an absolutely crucial figure in these developments.
Upon his retirement, Len was awarded an Emeritus Professorship and Honorary Degree from the University of Buckingham and became the Editor in Chief of Biofouling, The Journal of Bioadhesion and Biofilm Research, now published by Taylor and Francis. He was editing the journal until a week before his death.
He is greatly missed by all of his family and friends.