Obituary: Richard Duggan

Sep 18 2008 by David Charters, Liverpool Daily Post

Richard Duggan

HE WAS a grand family man with a generous smile and many gifts – high among which was an ebullient humour, sometimes exercised on the touch-line of sporting events, where he never felt that his own wry observations should be restrained by a comparatively modest experience of mud and crunching bones.

One son, who had made quite a dash on the rugby field, noted, a little ruefully, that his father would still lecture him on the finer points of forward play.

In short, this was a man who greatly appreciated athletic endeavours, in others. It was, perhaps, this quality, combined with a brilliant academic mind, which endeared Richard (“Richie”) Duggan to so many people, some of whom may remember his talk on bull-fighting, delivered to fellow sixth formers at St Edward’s College, Liverpool.

“There may be picadors and there may be matadors, but I prefer Diana Dors,” he said in conclusion.

Duggan was the youngest child of Richard and Nora. At Liverpool University, he studied organic chemistry, achieving the top first-class degree, the Alumnus Award and the Potts Medal for contributions to science.

He joined Unilever, Port Sunlight, Wirral, where he stayed for over 35 years, becoming the youngest ever section manager, before running the research and development unit in Rotterdam.

In 1978, he was appointed head of laboratory at Port Sunlight and later chairman of Crosfield Chemicals, Warrington. In 1994, he became senior industrial adviser to the DTI’s Innovation Unit, and then set up his own consultancy, Duggan Creative.

He was a creativity “nut” and never formally retired, being led by his own motto, “have fun or quit”. However, there was time for golf with his sons, afternoon teas in stately homes and trips to the theatre. Liverpool FC and The Beatles remained close to his heart.

His wife, Theresa O'Malley, was always, “the woman of my dreams”. They had seven children, Simon, Robin, Naomi, Eleanor, Michael, Edward and Lucy-Ann and six grandchildren. Duggan had a passion for excellence in education, being a governor of Bolton School for 20 years and a visiting professor at Liverpool John Moores University. All his children were graduates and, with his usual wit, he once said he felt “more like the vice-chancellor of a small university than a parent, facing similar funding issues!”

Richard James Duggan; scientist; born September 30, 1938, died August 19, 2008.