In Memoriam:
Professor Emeritus Sir Geoff Palmer KT OBE
It is with profound sadness that we reflect on the recent passing of Heriot-Watt University’s esteemed Chancellor, Professor Emeritus Sir Geoff Palmer KT OBE. Sir Geoff died on Wednesday 11th June at the age of 85.
Sir Geoff was an extraordinary individual whose life and work left an indelible mark on this University and far beyond. As Chancellor, he brought warmth, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to equality, education, and justice. His legacy as a pioneering scientist, human rights advocate, and inspirational leader will endure in the hearts and minds of all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Born in St Elizabeth, Jamaica on 9 April 1940, Sir Geoff moved to London as a 14-year-old in 1955, where his mother had emigrated some years earlier, as part of the Windrush Generation. A keen cricketer, he earned a place on the London Schools’ cricket team and at Highbury Grammar School.
He began his long association with Heriot-Watt University when he embarked on a PhD in grain science and technology, which he completed in 1967. From 1968 to 1977, he worked at the Brewing Research Foundation in Surrey, where he used fundamental research from his PhD to develop a pioneering barley abrasion process. This process was subsequently adopted by some of the UK’s biggest breweries.
Sir Geoff returned to Heriot-Watt University in 1977 as a lecturer and, in 1989, became Scotland’s first black professor. He was subsequently appointed Professor Emeritus at the University’s School of Life Sciences and, in 2014, he was Knighted for services to human rights, science, and charity. He would return in 2021 to take on the role of Chancellor, a position he would embrace until his death.
“My legacy is all of my children, students, my friends and relationships and all the people who helped me.”
Sir Geoff Palmer
A beloved figure within the University’s global community, Sir Geoff was known for his genial nature, personable charm, and genuine interest in the wellbeing and development of students. Professor Richard A. Williams CBE, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University, said:
“Sir Geoff was an inspiration not just to me but to colleagues past and present and countless students around the world. His infectious enthusiasm and passion for education was impossible to ignore and this University was all the richer for having such a strong association with him over the years. He will be dearly missed.”
Sir Geoff and his wife, Margaret, lived in Penicuik in Midlothian, where he was a well-known figure in and around the town. He was a board member of many charitable and equality organisations and a trustee of Penicuik Citizen's Advice Bureau, where the charity named its building, Palmer House, in his honour in 2021.
In 2023, marking the 75th anniversary of the arrival of HMT Empire Windrush to British shores in 1948, Sir Geoff was named one of ten pioneering members of the Windrush generation honoured by His Majesty the King with a specially commissioned portrait. The artwork has since become part of the Royal Collection, serving as a lasting tribute to the men, women, and children who journeyed to post-war Britain. In March 2024, King Charles III appointed Sir Geoff a Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle (KT), the highest order of chivalry in Scotland.
In an interview with Whisky Magazine in 2020, Sir Geoff was asked about his legacy. He said, “One of my daughters just had a wee girl in Glasgow. She and my other grandchildren are my legacy, and I hope that anything I’ve done they won’t be ashamed of.
“My legacy is all of my children, students, my friends and relationships and all the people who helped me.”
“He was an inspiration not just to me but to colleagues past and present and countless students around the world.”
Professor Richard A. Williams
