THE LIFE AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF ALAN DAVID CURZONS, 1945-2020
ALAN was born in King’s Lynn where he attended both Primary school and KES Grammar School (1957 – 1964). He was a bright and willing pupil who enjoyed both academic work and sport.
On a starting salary of £1,150 a year, Alan joined Beecham Pharmaceuticals in 1967 as a laboratory chemist having obtained a First in Chemistry from Birmingham University. 
He progressed through the ranks, finally becoming Director of Applied Sustainability, Chemistries, within EHS (Environmental Health and Safety) at Worthing.
In these early years, at Beecham Pharmaceutical, Alan’s work involved solving problems in the production of Penicillin-based antibiotics, amongst which was Amoxicillin. Many of the products, over which Alan had an enormous responsibility, eventually became a great commercial success for Beechams and GSK. Colleagues said that Alan had the ability to see the whole picture, but also had an intense ability to find the fine detail, which others had missed.
In his latter working years, at what eventually became Glaxo Smith Kline, as well as being required to be an expert witness, Alan was asked to lecture at many prestigious scientific gatherings around the world. He always insisted that Jenny his wife, accompany him. They had great fun together on these trips, which included America, Japan and other locations around Europe.
Alan was a modest man and seldom spoke of his work, but his achievements included the structure of tools and guidance to help scientists develop life-saving medicines with smaller and therefore ‘greener’ environmental impacts, something of which we are rightly far more conscious these days. Alan became an internationally-recognised practitioner in green chemistry, with many contributions published in scientific journals.
Alan and Jenny, who have lived in Walberton [West Sussex] for over 25 years, had both been on the parish council for a short period and had helped the church by being members of the gardening and cleaning teams for many years. They also belonged to and appreciated many of Walberton’s local societies.
They both loved nature and archaeology, enjoyed many happy walks in and around the village and events with some wonderful local friends who have been amazingly supportive before and after Alan’s untimely death due to Parkinson’s Disease.
Alan’s Parkinson’s Disease sadly took a greater hold on him more recently, preventing him from playing his winning game of tennis and the occasional game of golf. Prior to Alan’s illness, he and Jenny had enjoyed many wonderful holidays all over the world including much of Europe, South Africa, Australia, USA, Near and Far East and beyond.
Alan, described as being kind and a real gentleman, also had a great sense of humour and was a great fan of Monty Python and the Blues Brothers. He leaves behind two daughters, a step-son and step-daughter and Jenny his wife.
