Don Thomas obituary

My father, Don Thomas, who has died aged 88, was inspired to take up an academic life as a biologist, by his childhood love of the rivers, mountains and wildlife of Ceredigion in Wales.

He was born at Llangeitho, a village near the market town of Tregaron, and attended Tregaron grammar school. He was always very grateful for the way that the school helped him to expand his horizons academically. By 1954 he had been awarded a BSc in zoology and a PhD from the University of Wales at Aberystwyth, where he met his future wife, Joy Robinson. They married the following year.

In 1953 he took up a lecturing post at the University of Ghana, where he remained until 1965, latterly as an associate professor. During his time there he became a committed biologist, researcher and teacher. His field of study was mainly freshwater ecology and parasitology and how the knowledge he gained could be used in combating bilharzia, a disease that affects millions of people across the world and is transmitted via water snails. He also helped many students in Ghana to achieve qualifications in zoology.

In 1965, following a research fellowship at the University of California, Don joined the University of Sussex at Brighton, where he remained for nearly 30 years, living in the nearby village of Kingston. He started as a lecturer, and in 1969 became a reader in ecology, population ecology, freshwater ecology, statistics, comparative physiology and evolution. He continued his interest in human parasitic diseases, visiting countries including China, Brazil and Denmark. He regularly presented his research findings at the World Congresses of Malacologists with his characteristic rigour and attention to detail.

In 1989, he was awarded a doctorate of science from the University of Wales, reflecting his contribution over many years to scientific research. He retired in 1993.

His interests included fishing, tennis and history; one of his great passions was researching the origins of the Welsh language. Although he enjoyed living and working in Sussex, he was at heart a Welshman.

Don is survived by Joy, their four children, Julian, Fiona, Ian and me, and nine grandchildren.

Don Thomas obituary