AAMG Partners

RSC Long Service Awards for Derrick Porter

At the AAMG Committee Meeting on November 28th, Derrick Porter was presented with two long service awards, the RSC Long Service Award and the Analytical Division Distinguished Service Award. The presentation was made by Dr.Peter Stockwell, a member of the RSC Council and former Chairman of AAMG.

Derrick Porter is one of the longest serving members of the Automation and Analytical Management Group having originally joined the group in the early 1970s.  Since 1977 he has served the group continuously as a Committee Member, Assistant Secretary, Vice-Chairman, Chairman and Honorary Secretary (1978-80 and 1993–2004).  He is currently the Group’s Archivist.

Derrick was involved with the first automation workshops organised by a RSC Group (the then AMG) and ensured that the Group continued to be at the forefront of emerging laboratory technologies.  Derrick worked at LGC where he led one of the first teams in the UK dedicated to automation of the analytical laboratory.  In addition to his knowledge of analytical chemistry he was conversant with the hardware, software and applications of information technology.  His expertise in this area, plus his organisational skills, contributed to his outstanding service on the AAMG Committee, and I’m sure that there has not been a member of the committee, past or present, who would not vouch for Derrick’s reliability, integrity and efficiency in fulfilling his responsibilities.

In addition to his contribution to the administration of the Group, Derrick currently fulfils the role of Group Archivist and has provided a complete electronic record of the business of the AAMG from its formation up to the present day.