It has been a privilege to pursue knowledge for its own sake and to see how it might help mankind in more practical ways.

My main efforts focussed on trying to identify the rate controlling steps during the cell cycle. Crucial for this analysis were wee mutants that were advanced prematurely through the cell cycle and so divided at a reduced cell size.

I was by far the youngest of the family, and at times it was like being an only child.

This possibility bothered me as I thought it was not advisable to remain in one academic environment, and the long dark winters in Edinburgh could be rather dismal.

During the winter my attention was attracted to the changes in the stars and planets in the sky.

My parents were neither wealthy nor academic, but we lived comfortably and they were always extremely supportive of my academic efforts and aspirations, both at school and university.

I think it was this curiosity about the natural world which awoke my early interest in science.