We are saddened to hear of the passing of Dr John Brian Haworth (OS 1944) who died peacefully on Saturday 24th February 2024, at the age of 97. He was born on 30th January 1927 to the late Norman Blackburn Haworth and Lucetta (Knight) Haworth in Dunkinfield, Cheshire, England. He was the husband of Jean (Norbury) Haworth.

Dr Haworth was a Chartered Engineer specialising in Metallurgy with an extensive career in the UK, Canada, and the US. His education began at Alexandra Park School and later joined SGS, where he received the Nelstrop Prize. His brothers Allan (OS 1947) and Philip (OS 1951) followed him to SGS. As a young boy, Brian attended the Sunday School Boy Scouts and eventually the youth club at St Marks Church in Edgeley. His advanced education began at Sheffield University, where he attended from 1944–1947 attaining a bachelor’s degree with first class honours in Metallurgy. He was awarded the Mappin Medal for being the top student in the faculty. In addition, he was captain of the tennis team and participated on the fencing team, later donating his fencing equipment to SGS. Brian also represent Cheshire County in tennis whilst he was at Sheffield and was sponsored by Slazenger. His younger brothers benefiting whenever he obtained a new racquet from Slazenger. He continued to Oxford University, where he earned his D.Phil. in Metallurgical Chemistry in 1951. While studying, he represented Oxford in athletics as a sprinter and in tennis.

His professional career began in the UK at Murex Ltd. as a research metallurgist before moving on to Sheepbridge Engineering. His career took him to Canada for positions with the British Columbia Research Council in 1954 and later with Sherrit Gordon Mines. He then moved to the US and held positions with Fluor Corp and Freeport Nickel Company. His career advanced to a position as Executive VP with Metals for Electronics, later purchased by Pfizer Inc., where he pioneered work in roll compacting metal powders into strip.

Over the next several years, he took up positions as Technical Director of the Société Le Nickel in New York, Engelhard Industries in New Jersey, Stauffer Chemical Company in Westport, Connecticut and Geneva, Switzerland, and Electralloy Corp in New York as VP. He was a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals, and Mining, and a member of IOM3, ASM, and ASTM.

In retirement, he and his wife Jean moved to a number of places across the US as well as spending some time in Bollington, UK. They eventually settled in Tiverton, Rhode Island in the US.

Even into his 90s, Brian was very hardworking, active, and sociable. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and doting on his great-grandchildren. He was an avid fan of tennis, Formula 1 racing, and sailing. He loved gardening, reading, and keeping up with the latest advances in metallurgy and materials sciences. He was also an ardent bridge player.

Dr Haworth is survived by his daughter, Carol Johnson, two granddaughters, Danielle Metrano and Rachael Schaller and his four great-grandchildren, Angelina, Arianna, and Aurelia Metrano and Andrew Schaller. He also leaves one brother, Dr. N. Philip Haworth, and many nieces and nephews in the UK. He was preceded in death by his wife Jean in 2021. They were married for 70 years, reaching their Platinum Wedding Anniversary in 2021.

We pass our sincere condolences to the family and friends of Dr Haworth.