William David Ollis. 22 December 1924 — 13 June 1999

David Ollis was one of the most influential and significant members of the group of British chemists who rose to prominence during the 1950s and 1960s. In common with other members of this group, he made important and lasting contributions to both the theory and the practice of his chosen discipline. Although the growth of natural product chemistry was less dramatic during the 1970s and beyond, he transposed his activities increasingly into mechanistic studies and so remained one of the leaders of chemistry in the UK. He occupied the Chair of Organic Chemistry at Sheffield University from 1963 to his retirement in 1990, and thereafter continued to be involved in chemistry through an honorary appointment at Birmingham University until his death in 1999.