12 Feb 2018
It is with regret that SCI announces the death of ex-President Thomas Swan OBE. Tom, as he was known, sadly passed away at the age of 75 on 20 January 2018.
After studying chemistry at Oxford University and a stint at Dow Chemical Company, Tom joined the family business, Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd., in 1986 as a Sales Manager. In 1976, he became Managing Director of the company, becoming the third generation of the Swan family to run the company.
Tom is credited with modernising the family business, which predominantly dealt with construction materials, into an innovative speciality chemicals company. Tom served 30 years in this role until finally passing the position to his son, Harry, in 2006, and served as chairman of the company’s board until his death.
Beside his many achievements within
Thomas Swan & Co.
Ltd., Tom was always a
passionate supporter
of science education,
working closely with
York’s Chemical Industry
Education Centre (CIEC),
which promotes science
teaching in primary
and secondary
schools.
With the
CIEC, he
founded the
Children Challenging Industry
programme, which has been
running successfully since
2000, connecting classrooms to
science-based industries. Tom
spent over 20 years with CIEC,
sitting as an advisory board
member for 16 years before
becoming Chair of the charity for
the last five years.
Tom served as SCI President from 2000 to 2002, and he was also a member of the Executive Committee, SCI Council, and the London, Biotechnology, and Fine Chemicals groups during his involvement with SCI.
In 1999, he was awarded an OBE for his services to the chemical industry and, in 2011, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chemical Industries Association.
Tom leaves behind his wife Marney, three children, James, Kirsty, and Harry, and ten grandchildren.
SCI would like to thank Tom and his family for his long-standing support of our organisation and mission throughout his career.
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