Edward Abel

Edward William Abel (3 December 1931 – 19 April 2021) was a British chemist, editor of textbooks on organometallic chemistry and president of the Royal Society of Chemistry (1996–1998).

Early life and education Abel was born in Kenfig Hill, Bridgend County Borough, the son of Sidney John Abel and Donna Maria (née Grabham). He attended Bridgend County Grammar School, where he gained his Higher School Certificate in 1949. Abel went on to study chemistry at University of Wales, Cardiff, where he was an undergraduate student of Professor Howard Purnell. Following his graduation from Cardiff, he served with the British Army during the Korean War. Under the supervision of Michael F. Lappert, Abel finished his PhD in just two years. In 1959, he joined University of Bristol as a lecturer and was later promoted to reader. Among his doctoral students at Exeter was Suresh Bhargava , now a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry who has enjoyed a successful career in Australia.

Throughout Abel's career, he also held visiting positions at University of British Columbia (1970), TU Braunschweig (1973), and Australian National University (1990). The explosion also blew off several windows as well as the door of Wilkinson's office, which was adjacent to Abel's lab.

He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1997 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to chemistry. In 2000, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree from University of Exeter.

Personal life and death Abel married Margaret Rosina Edwards in Bridgend on 6 August 1960. They had a son and a daughter: Edward Christopher (1963) and Julia Margaret (1967) who, between them, have four grandchildren. Margaret Rosina Abel died on 4 February 2018. Eddie Abel died in Cobham on 19 April 2021. His funeral was held at Randall's Park Crematorium, Leatherhead on 18 May 2021.