About the Author

Brian Iddon was born on the West Lancashire Plain in Tarleton and educated at Tarleton C of E Primary School, Christ Church Boys' Secondary Modern School and the Technical College in Southport, and at the University of Hull from where he graduated in 1961 with a BSc in Honours Chemistry. He was awarded a PhD by the university in 1964 and a DSc in 1981. He was employed teaching and researching chemistry at the Universities of Durham (1964-1966) and Salford (1966-1997) and became well-known for presenting a demonstration lecture 'The Magic of Chemistry' throughout Britain and in Europe. Brian was elected to Bolton MB Council in 1977 and held various positions and served several committees of the Council until 1997 when he was elected to Parliament in the safe Labour seat of Bolton, South East, from which he retired in 2010. He was Chairman of Bolton's Housing Committee from 1986 to 1996. Brian's interests in Parliament covered a multitude of topics in the education, health and social services, housing, home affairs and science and technology policy areas. He grasped some controversial subjects such as the policy on illicit drugs, euthanasia, legislation surrounding health food products, the Middle East Peace Process and Kashmir. He helped to steer through three Acts of Parliament and was a Member of the Science and Technology Select Committee. Today, apart from his various writing projects, he holds a number of voluntary posts in the science policy area, in education and with a community charity.