Physicist (surface structure, interferometry). Educated at Durham University, he began research in Berlin and at Imperial College London before being appointed as Lecturer, later Reader, at Manchester University. He was Professor of Physics, Royal Holloway College, London University, 1947-1973, where his research concentrated on interferometry, diamond physics, and lunar dust. He wrote, lectured, and broadcast prolifically, and undertook much examining work at London University and many other universities in Britain and overseas.