Peter Andrew Sturrock 1924-2024
Peter Sturrock, distinguished physicist and emeritus professor at Stanford University, passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his friends and family, on August 12, 2024, at the age of 100. A pioneering scientist, Sturrock was known for his profound contributions to the fields of astrophysics, plasma physics, and solar research.
Read more to find out how the Rotary Club of Grays Thurrock were involved in his life ..........
Born in 1924 in South Stifford, Peter Sturrock's passion for physics led him to pursue a Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge (following a scholarship to Palmers Endowed School) where he began his illustrious career in scientific research. His early work in plasma physics laid the groundwork for his later research in astrophysics, where he explored topics ranging from the dynamics of the sun to the mysteries of pulsars and neutrinos. However, Peter's illustrious career may have faltered in 1949 as he didn't have the means to get to America. so following an introduction from local business men, the Rotary Club of Grays Thurrock funded his passage with a cheque for £25 (£1,000 in todays money) to cover his Atlantic crossing and the train journey to Washington.
Peter was joyfully married to Marilyn for over 40 years until her passing in 2006, he is survived by his loving family; including his two children, three grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren, who remember him for his warmth, wit, and tenacity. The Rotary Club of Grays Thurrock was also remembered in his memoirs "The Life & Times of a Dissident Scientist" published in 2017 and it turns out also in his will. The club's historian, Rotarian Derek Worrall and our Treasurer, Rotarian David Hamilton were instrumental in bringing this wonderful story to light.