SIR HAROLD W. THOMPSON F.R.S., C.B.E. 1908-1983

I first met Tommy in the early fifties when Pergamon Press took over the publishing of Spectrochimica Acta from the Vatican Publishing House. We had many discussions, and some argument, about scientific journal publishing and the future needs for a proper communication system among scientists and cooperation with the Scientific Unions. I was most grateful for his support and initiative as the leader in the field of molecular spectroscopy.

We shared a further interest in the sporting arena-the world of football. I much appreciated his warm advice and experience when I became Chairman of Oxford United.

This Memorial Volume is a true record of a great man and I would like to thank the Guest Editors Foil Miller and M. Kent Wilson, and Ian Mills for preparing the biography and list of publications, and Richard Lord, Norman Jones and Foil Miller the authors of reminiscences of Tommy.

During Tommy’s long service as Joint Editor, Spectrochimica Acta Part A has gone from strength to strength and is one of the leading forums for the publication of research results on molecular spectroscopy the world over. On behalf of Pergamon Press and the many thousands of readers and contributors I am honoured to dedicate this issue to the memory of Sir Harold W. Thompson.

ROBERT MAXWELL PUBLISHER