From page 100 of the Annual Research Report (1991) for the Christie Hospital, Paterson Institute, University of Manchester and Cancer Research Campaign

John Swallow

Dr. A. John Swallow retired in August 1991 after 29 years of service in the Paterson Institute.

John obtained a first class honours degree in Chemistry at the early age of 19 from Birmingham University. His research career began in Professor Sir Norman Haworth's department where he studied the biophysical chemistry of enzymes and received a Ph.D. in 1949. In the late 1940's the early 1950's there was a growing impetus in Britain to try and find peaceful purposes for Atomic Energy. On the advice of Sir Norman, John obtained a prestigious ICI Fellowship and began research on the effects of ionising radiation on biological materials. It was during this period that he published one of the first studies on the mechanisms by which cysteine can act as a radioprotector.

His interests in the biochemical aspects of ionising radiation were continued when he went to work in J. S. Mitchell's Radiotherapeutics Department in Cambridge. Among the many papers which John published during this period were two very important studies involving cytochrome c and NAD+. These early works clearly showed how ionising radiation could be used to initiate normal biochemical reactions. This important aspect of radiation biochemistry is still actively pursued today in many laboratories throughout the world.

In those days there was a tendency among certain people at Cambridge to only recognise Cambridge degrees. The fact that John was still relatively young and yet had already done 2-3 years independent postdoctoral research did not help the situation. Characteristically, he took up the challenge and registered for another degree. He was awarded a Ph.D. from Cambridge in 1954. It is very unusual for a scientist to have two Ph.D.'s but for his quality of research, John Swallow was also awarded a D.Sc. from Birmingham in 1961 and a Sc.D. from Cambridge in 1971.

After leaving Cambridge, John started to work on some applied aspects of radiation chemistry, firstly in industry (Tube Investments, 1955-1958) and later as lecturer at Imperial College, London (1959-1962). It was during this period that he published his first book (Radiation Chemistry of Organic Compounds, Pergamon Press, 1960). This valuable contribution to the field is still widely acclaimed by many research workers and was, like his second book (Radiation Chemistry, Longman, 1973), subsequently translated into Russian and Chinese.

In 1962, he moved to the Paterson Laboratories and was soon struck by the potential offered by John Keene's pulse radiolysis apparatus for the direct observation of free radicals and other unstable forms of biological molecules. As a radiation chemist who had been at the forefront of speculating on the existence of such species, it was very exciting to have the facility to actually observe them. Many years later he said in one of his Paterson Club lectures, that the feeling was similar to that experienced by the first biologist who looked down a microscope. John rapidly recognised the potential of the techniques and began in the early 1960's to use it for his own unique studies on biological molecules. Many of these early fundamental studies now form the basis of modern radiation chemistry. In recognition of his contributions to the understanding of the effects of radiation on biological molecules, the Association of Radiation Research awarded John the Weiss medal in 1982.

John has always had a wide interest in the uses of radiation and this is shown by his appointment to various consultancies and committees. These have included consultancies with Nuclear Engineering companies and the Argonne National Laboratory (USA). He was also an adviser to the Philippine Government on Nuclear Energy and a member of the British Government Advisory Committee on Irradiated and Novel Foods. More recently he became a member of the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes. John has always adopted an exacting, logical approach to his research while still maintaining a strong sense of excitement and satisfaction in new discoveries. His methodical approach has led to the downfall of many, "brilliant new theories". Nonetheless, if a colleagues theory has passed the John Swallow approach, then he can be very confident that it must be right.

John will also be remembered for his talks at the Paterson Club. In one talk for example he made a point of not using any props; he held an interested audience for 45 minutes while his arms were folded - no slides, no overheads and no blackboard. The talk was such a success that he gave another one shortly afterwards. This time he talked about structures of antitumour drugs and just used the overhead projector to draw the complex structures. He also took the opportunity to criticise the way in which drugs have been developed; he drew a picture of an improved horse pulling a cart with a wind spoiler.

John has always been an enthusiastic independent traveller. He has crossed the Sahara, spent peaceful nights in African villages and has been to Timbuktu, Albania, Guinea-Bissau and different parts of China. He assures us that there are still a few places in the world which he has not seen and he intends to rectify this now that he has retired.

It is an old tradition in the Department of Biophysical Chemistry to present a colleague who is retiring with a tankard signed by all of his fellow workers in the department. Many of the leading radiation scientists in the world were pleased to join us in this local tradition. As a sign of respect and appreciation, they willingly contributed towards an engraved silver dish

John's academic and scientific achievements have been impressive, but his colleagues in the laboratory and abroad will also miss his qualities as a mentor, philosopher and friend. We all wish him a long and fruitful retirement.

John Butler

See also "A Personal Account of Forty Years in Radiation Chemistry" by A.J.Swallow in the book "Early Developments in Radiation Chemistry", edited by J.Kroh and published by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 1989. His line of research was continued at the Free Radical Research Facility at Daresbury. A biography includes post-retirement activities.