1 TMG History
Edward L. Charsley,*a Peter J. Hainesb and Fred W. Wilburnc
a IPOS, School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Queensgate, Huddersfield HD1 3 DH, UK
b Oakland Analytical Services, 38 Oakland Avenue, Farnham, Surrey GU9 9DX, UK
c Southport, UK
1.1 Introduction
In 2015, the Thermal Methods Group (TMG), an interest group of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), entered its 50th year. It seems appropriate therefore to not only look back to its origins but also to review briefly its activities since its formation and its current role in the field of thermal analysis and calorimetry. For readers interested in a more detailed account of the formation of the Group, there is an excellent paper covering the first twenty one years of the TMG’s history.1
1.2 The Early Years
The 1960s were an exciting time for thermal analysis. The field was growing rapidly and the range of commercially available equipment was expanding, including the introduction of both power-compensated and heat flux differential scanning calorimeters. In addition, a significant number of thermal analysts were engaged in building their own equipment, particularly in the field of simultaneous thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis.
At that time, there was no forum in the UK where thermal analysts could meet so, in 1964, John Redfern and Cyril Keattch decided to investigate the possibility of forming a group by holding a thermal analysis symposium at the Battersea College of Technology (now the University of Surrey). The response exceeded the organisers’ expectations and some 100 delegates attended the meeting. The discussions that took place during the technical sessions, and at the buffet supper afterwards, enthusiastically endorsed the idea of formally establishing a thermal analysis group.
This aim was realised on the 24th February 1965 when the UK Thermal Analysis Group was formed as part of the Society for Analytical Chemistry. The inaugural meeting took place on the evening of May 28th 1965 at the Chemical Society, Burlington House, Piccadilly, where the new Committee was confirmed. The Group’s first Chairman was Robert Mackenzie with John Redfern as Vice-Chairman, Cyril Keattch as Secretary and Alan Hodgson as Treasurer. The 1st AGM was held in December 1965 and the Group was well and truly launched with its first two-day meeting in April 1966. This consisted of a visit to the laboratories of Pilkington Bros. Ltd on the first day and a meeting at the Royal College of Advanced Technology, Salford (now the University of Salford), on the second day on the “Characterisation of Residues after Thermal Treatment”.
In 1972, the name of the Group was changed to the Thermal Methods Group to reflect the wide range of techniques falling within its scope. Following the merger of the Society of Analytical Chemistry and the Chemical Society in 1975, the Group became part of the Analytical Division of the Chemical Society. In 1980, following the merger of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry and the Faraday Society, the Group became part of the Analytical Division of the newly formed Royal Society of Chemistry. The objective of the TMG is to promote awareness of all thermoanalytical, calorimetric and related techniques by a range of activities, including a regular programme of scientific meetings, training workshops and publications.
1.3 TMG Committee Structure
The management of the operation of the Group is the responsibility of the TMG Committee, which is elected at the Annual General Meeting, normally held during the April scientific conference. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Immediate Past Chairman of the TMG serve for a period of two years and Committee members for the three years, with the possibility of a further three-year extension. The posts of Secretary and Treasurer are renewable. The Committee hold “face to face” meetings at least twice a year and these are supplemented by telephone conferences where necessary. In addition, sub-committees are formed to deal with specific activities such as training courses and the planning of meetings. The TMG Committee actively welcomes new members, particularly those that can widen its range of thermal analysis and calorimetric expertise.
A complete list of the TMG Chairmen, Secretaries and Treasurers is given in Tables 1.1–1.3, respectively. The Group has been exceptionally fortunate in having long-serving Secretaries and Treasurers who have provided valuable continuity during the 50 years of the Group’s history and who have worked tirelessly on the Group’s behalf. In particular, mention should be made of the Group’s first Secretary, Cyril Keattch, who held the post from 1965 until his untimely death in 1999.
Table 1.1 A list of TMG Chairs
1965 | Robert Mackenzie | Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, Aberdeen |
1967 | John Redfern | Battersea College of Technology, London |
1969 | David Dollimore | University of Salford |
1971 | John Sharp | University of Sheffield |
1973 | Keith Barrett | ICI Dyestuffs/Patent Office |
1975 | Fred Wilburn | Pilkington Bros. Ltd. |
1977 | Dick Still | University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology |
1979 | Ted Charsley | Stanton Redcroft Ltd |
1981 | Graham Clarke | North East Surrey College of Technology |
1983 | Peter Laye | University of Leeds |
1985 | Derek Nowell | Hatfield Polytechnic |
1987 | Peter Haines | Kingston Polytechnic |
1989 | Jenny Hider | Consultant |
1991 | Bob Whitehouse | Cabot Plastics |
1993 | David Morgan | British Geological Survey |
1995 | Jezz Leckenby | TopoMetrix Corporation |
1997 | Steve Warrington | Loughborough University |
1999 | Trevor Lever | TA Instruments |
2001 | Jim Ford | Liverpool John Moores University |
2003 | Keyna O’Reilly | University of Oxford |
2004 | Mark Phipps | TA Instruments |
2006 | Mike Reading | University of East Anglia |
2008 | Simon Gaisford | School of Pharmacy, University of London |
2010 | Ian Priestley | Syngenta Ltd, Huddersfield |
2012 | Paul Gabbott | PETA Solutions |
2014 | Vicky Kett | Queen’s University Belfast |
Table 1.2 A list of TMG Secretaries
Cyril Keattch | 1965–1999 | Industrial and Laboratory Servic... |