Tributes paid to ‘trailblazer' academic Sir Geoff Palmer after death aged 85
The professor was long associated with Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, serving as chancellor and professor emeritus for many years.
He was also a prominent public figure in other fields, recently reviewing the legacy of slavery and colonialism in the Scottish capital.
The university hailed him as a 'trailblazer and inspiration within higher education and in wider society', while Labour MSP Foysol Choudhury described him as a 'courageous voice for justice and equality'.
Sir Geoff died on Wednesday. He is survived by his wife Margaret, their three children, and grandchildren.
It is with great sadness that we share the news that our esteemed Chancellor and renowned humanitarian, Professor Emeritus Sir Geoff Palmer OBE, has died.
Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time. #HeriotWattUni @SirGeoffPalmer pic.twitter.com/sZv74kSlzX
— Heriot-Watt University (@HeriotWattUni) June 13, 2025
Born in Jamaica in 1940, he moved to London aged 14 as part of the Windrush generation.
He came to Edinburgh in the 1960s, where he completed a Phd in grain science and technology. His developments in the field went on to be adopted by some of the largest breweries in the UK.
In 1989 he became Scotland's first black professor as he began a teaching role at Heriot-Watt which continued until 2005.
Sir Geoff returned to the institution as a professor emeritus and later as chancellor in 2021.
Sir Geoff, pictured in 2021, was an outspoken campaigner against racism and a respected academic (Andrew Milligan/PA)
He was knighted in 2014 for services to human rights, science and charity, and last year he was appointed to the Order of the Thistle, Scotland's greatest order of chivalry.
As well as being a scientist, Sir Geoff was an outspoken advocate of human rights and racial equality.
He wrote several articles and books exploring these topics and pushed for education around Scotland's past roles in colonialism and slavery.
In response to the Black Lives Matter movement, City of Edinburgh Council commissioned an independent review group to examine its historic links with slavery in the public realm.
Sir Geoff led a review into Edinburgh's historic links with slavery (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Sir Geoff led the group and his report made 10 recommendations, including ordering a 'significant' new public artwork and 're-presenting' buildings and places which have historic links to slavery.
In 2022 he successfully campaigned for a plaque at the Court of Session commemorating the 1778 judgment of Knight v Wedderburn, which established that Scots law would not support slavery.
He told the PA news agency at the time the plaque meant a 'tremendous amount' to him.
Despite his years-long efforts to address racism, Sir Geoff did not advocate for the removal of statues and building names associated with historic slave owners and those connected to the trade, such as Viscount Dundas.
He said: 'If you remove the evidence, you remove the deed.'
Sir Geoff became Scotland's first black professor in 1989 (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Richard A Williams, principal of Heriot-Watt, led tributes to Sir Geoff. He said: 'Today marks a sad day for this university and for everyone who knew Sir Geoff.
'He 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, and our thoughts are with his loved ones at this difficult time.'
MSP Mr Choudhury said he was 'deeply saddened' at the news.
He wrote on social media: 'He was not only a distinguished scientist and academic, but also a courageous voice for justice and equality.
'My sincere condolences to his family and all who knew and admired him. May his soul rest in peace.'
Scottish First Minister John Swinney said: 'Sir Geoff Palmer was a pioneer and an outstanding intellectual.
'He had a hugely positive impact on Scotland and will be sorely missed. My sympathy to his family.'
Scotland Office minister and Midlothian MP Kirsty McNeill described Sir Geoff as 'an innovator, campaigner and educator', adding: 'We were lucky to have someone of his extraordinary warmth and breadth of interest in Midlothian.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'That's insane' - American bamboozled trying to eat 'the European way'
The video sparked a fierce debate online about the best way to eat A video of an American woman trying to eat 'the European way' has led to a fierce debate about etiquette. Amy Gordy was filmed trying to eat a meal at a restaurant holding her fork in her right hand with the prongs - known as tines - facing downwards. In a Tik Tok viewed more than 2.6million times and titled 'I don't expect this to be that hard', she held her knife in her left hand and used it to pile food onto the back of her fork as she tackled her bowl of meat, grains, and eggs. She also continued holding her cutlery while talking to a man out of shot who filmed the experiment. The results were interesting, with Amy struggling to pile enough food onto her fork and generally making a hash of feeding herself. She also said that talking in the US while holding your cutlery was 'rude'. "So, many around the world have spoken, so I'm going to try to not switch my silverware for this meal. It could be challenging for us Americans. What I do - I don't even know how to do this," she said, grappling with the cutlery. "What do I do? So I don't put this down, right? So I'm keeping this in my hand. I scoop it on here? Fork down," she continued, to which the man filming answered: "That's so rude looking, because I'm talking to you right now and you're holding both. That's insane. I don't get it. In America, that's considered rude." Amy continued: "I'm not supposed to speak with my mouth full either, which I agree is rude. That is bad manners, but. I'm confused how to use my knife with my left hand. I'm very inept at my left hand. Do you scoop things on the back of the fork? "Okay, but I am really struggling. Stabbing, I guess. But for the grains that are on here, I want to do this. Hey, you guys, I'm really trying. I really... Really am trying." Unsurprisingly, the comments were full of people bemused at Amy's difficulty with using her cutlery in this way. "Being able to use a knife and fork properly is considered rude in the US, said Danielle Kennedy, while thrdad90 said: "It's not the 'European Way', it THE CORRECT WAY." AK99 said: "Scottish here. Absolutely baffled why you're struggling to use a knife and fork", while Regiina Martin said: "Seems that etiquette is also illegal in US." Julesrules said: "If you're right handed, you cut with the knife and press the food against the back of the fork, which is in your left hand, then bring it to your mouth. While you are chewing, you're getting your next forkful ready. You don't wave your dirty knife around. You either get ready for next forkful or you just rest it on the plate until you're ready to use it again." How do Americans eat? According to Taste of Home, many Americans use a technique called 'cut-and-switch'. This would see the person holding their knife in their right hand and fork in their left as they cut into their food. They then put the knife down and use their fork in their left hand to bring the food up to their mouth. The 'cut-and-switch' was reportedly common in France well into the 19th Century before falling out of favour. American anthropologist James Deetz says that Americans used to hold a spoon in their right hand before the fork became more common. He adds that forks used to be used purely as an accessory for cutting, rather than bringing food up to the mouth. How do Europeans eat? As we know, Europe is a big place with huge variations on how people use cutlery. Food Republic says that in most western European countries, like France, people will usually use their left hand for their fork, regardless of whether they are right or left handed. People tend to hold onto their cutlery for the duration of the course, even when speaking - something Amy's partner said was 'rude' in the US. British etiquette coach William Hanson says that, in the UK: "Fork in the left hand and knife in the right, always. Start by holding your hand out flat palm upwards. Place the knife on your right palm with the blade facing upwards, resting along your index finger and handle resting in your palm. "Do the same with your fork with the tines. Then wrap all other fingers on both hands around the handles and flip over so the cutlery is facing downwards. Index fingers should be running down the top of the handles. "Holding cutlery is often taught with the caveat of 'this is how the British Royal Family would hold a knife and fork'. However, the following methods go beyond 'establishment' rules: it is also the most efficient as, after all, a knife is effectively a saw to cut food, and a fork a stabber to lift food to the mouth." But do not panic if you are wondering how to eat the likes of salad, spaghetti or - as in Amy's case - rice: "Some dishes (e.g. risotto, spaghetti, salad) require a fork only, in which case you hold it in your dominant hand with the tines facing upwards. The same applies to dishes for which you hold a spoon only."
South Wales Guardian
16 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Community visibly emotional during candlelit vigil for Air India crash victims
Faith leaders from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities led the service on Saturday at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, where 20 of the victims are thought to have previously worshipped. One of the most emotional moments of the vigil came when Harrow Mayor, Councillor Anjana Patel, shared that two young girls had lost their father in the crash, just weeks after their mother died from cancer. Their father, Arjun Patoliya, had flown to Gujarat to scatter his wife Bharti's ashes following her death. He was returning home to his daughters, aged four and eight, when the plane went down. 'The saddest incident we have got here in Harrow is one parent had already died here because of cancer,' Cllr Patel said, as the crowd audibly gasped. 'The husband went to do the rituals in India and coming back, he was on board. He has left two little girls behind and the girls are now orphans. 'I really hope that those girls will be looked after by all of us.' She added: 'Caring is the most that we can do at this hour. 'We don't have any words to describe how the families and friends must be feeling, so what we can do is pray for them.' She also revealed how her sister-in-law's cousin had been killed in the crash. Local councillors, a local MP and residents packed into the temple for the ceremony, which included emotional tributes, candle lighting, and a message of condolence from the King. Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, said it was believed to be the highest number of British deaths ever recorded in a plane crash, with 53 UK nationals on board. 'When someone dies in illness or old age, we celebrate their lives,' he said. 'But when an air crash happens – completely unpredictable – people are taken away from us immediately, just like that.' 'We think of all those families sitting by the telephone, wondering if their loved ones were actually on the plane.' He said the Gujarati community in the UK was deeply affected, with victims having links to Harrow, Leicester, Birmingham and beyond. 'The difficulty the authorities have already got is: who are they visiting? Which family members were they coming to see in the UK?' he said. Councillor Hitesh Karia, who represents Pinner South ward and is a member of the temple's congregation, also shared the impact of the tragedy. Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: 'It's nice that the local community can come together – the local support means a lot. 'Twenty devotees that come here have sadly lost their lives.' 'It shows there is a solidarity, and despite the high amount of diversity, we can come together when appropriate.' The vigil was held at the temple led by Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who previously told PA he knew 20 of the victims personally. Many in the hall quietly wept as candles were lit by representatives of all four faiths. 'The only feeling left is sadness – we can't do any more,' Mr Guruji said.
North Wales Chronicle
16 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Community visibly emotional during candlelit vigil for Air India crash victims
Faith leaders from the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Jewish communities led the service on Saturday at the Siddhashram Shakti Centre in Harrow, north-west London, where 20 of the victims are thought to have previously worshipped. One of the most emotional moments of the vigil came when Harrow Mayor, Councillor Anjana Patel, shared that two young girls had lost their father in the crash, just weeks after their mother died from cancer. Their father, Arjun Patoliya, had flown to Gujarat to scatter his wife Bharti's ashes following her death. He was returning home to his daughters, aged four and eight, when the plane went down. 'The saddest incident we have got here in Harrow is one parent had already died here because of cancer,' Cllr Patel said, as the crowd audibly gasped. 'The husband went to do the rituals in India and coming back, he was on board. He has left two little girls behind and the girls are now orphans. 'I really hope that those girls will be looked after by all of us.' She added: 'Caring is the most that we can do at this hour. 'We don't have any words to describe how the families and friends must be feeling, so what we can do is pray for them.' She also revealed how her sister-in-law's cousin had been killed in the crash. Local councillors, a local MP and residents packed into the temple for the ceremony, which included emotional tributes, candle lighting, and a message of condolence from the King. Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, said it was believed to be the highest number of British deaths ever recorded in a plane crash, with 53 UK nationals on board. 'When someone dies in illness or old age, we celebrate their lives,' he said. 'But when an air crash happens – completely unpredictable – people are taken away from us immediately, just like that.' 'We think of all those families sitting by the telephone, wondering if their loved ones were actually on the plane.' He said the Gujarati community in the UK was deeply affected, with victims having links to Harrow, Leicester, Birmingham and beyond. 'The difficulty the authorities have already got is: who are they visiting? Which family members were they coming to see in the UK?' he said. Councillor Hitesh Karia, who represents Pinner South ward and is a member of the temple's congregation, also shared the impact of the tragedy. Speaking to the PA news agency, he said: 'It's nice that the local community can come together – the local support means a lot. 'Twenty devotees that come here have sadly lost their lives.' 'It shows there is a solidarity, and despite the high amount of diversity, we can come together when appropriate.' The vigil was held at the temple led by Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, who previously told PA he knew 20 of the victims personally. Many in the hall quietly wept as candles were lit by representatives of all four faiths. 'The only feeling left is sadness – we can't do any more,' Mr Guruji said.
