Walter Eric Spear

Walter Eric Spear (20 January 1921 – 21 February 2008) was a German physicist whose work helped develop large area electronics and thin film displays. He was born in Frankfurt to a Jewish father and a Lutheran mother; by the time he finished his school examinations in 1938, life for Jews and people associated with Jews was becoming difficult. With the support of friends and relatives in Britain, the family moved to London where he arrived in 1938 "with a small suitcase and a large cello".

Education Wanting to pursue a scientific career, Spear attended evening classes for the University of London entrance examination, which he passed before the family were interned on the Isle of Man as suspected Axis sympathisers. They were soon released, and Spear joined the Royal Pioneer Corps in 1940, later moving to the Royal Artillery where he became a Bombardier before being demobilized in 1946. with whom he would work closely throughout his career. LeComber went with Spear to Dundee, and together they became known for their joint research into the properties of amorphous silicon.

The work carried out by Spear and LeComber and their research team in this field led to the creation of the amorphous film silicon transistor, which led to LCD technology and to the eventual development of technologies such as flat screen TVs and solar panels.

When Spear retired in 1988, he was succeeded in the Harris Chair by LeComber, who died in 1992. In 1988 he was awarded the Rank Prize, and the same year presented the Royal Society Bakerian Lecture. In 1990 he was awarded their Rumford Medal, and he retired soon afterwards.

Spear's archives are held by Archive Services, University of Dundee. As well as including academic works by Spear and notes for talks and lectures, they include Spear's ‘Scientific Curiosities and Absurdities’ file which features some of the more unusual correspondence Spear received.

Personal Spear's mother was a professional violinist and teacher. Spear inherited a 17h century Italian cello while a boy and received cello lessons from the age of 8. He was an amateur cellist throughout his life. His father, David Spear, was a graphic artist who later became a photographer. by the couple's two daughters and their children.