My father, Roy Fielden, who has died aged 82, was always grateful to his parents for the value they put on a good education.
He was the son of Walter Fielden, a painter and decorator, and Florence (nee Thomas), who worked at the mill in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, until her death from asthma when Roy was 17.
In 1944 he was one of two children from Walsden board school to be awarded a county minor scholarship to Todmorden grammar school. From there he was given a West Riding major scholarship to Leeds University to study pharmacology, stayed on to undertake post-graduate research, and was awarded a PhD in 1958.
In 1959 he headed south with his PhD supervisor, Bill Bain, to work in the research institute at Smith, Kline & French, now GlaxoSmithKline, in Welwyn Garden City, where he worked until his retirement in 1997.
In the early days his work was mainly concentrated on cardiovascular research, searching and isolating anti-hypertensive agents used to lower blood pressure. In the latter part of his career he worked in regulatory affairs, summarising drug trials for government reports on drugs including alpha blockers, prescribed for high blood pressure, and cimetidine, which counters stomach acid. He had a talent for writing succinctly.
In 1972 he met Janet Attewill, known as Jan, a teacher and publisher, at the Abbey Theatre in St Albans, where he was a volunteer. They married the following year. On retirement he continued working as a consultant for some years, and was very proud of his son, Nick who followed him into the world of, medicine.
His passions were music, especially opera and works for the organ, and of late he was a devoted supporter of the music of St Albans Cathedral, particularly the Abbey Girls Choir, and the performances of his cellist daughter, Natasha.
He loved France, particularly the Dordogne, restoring two houses at which he delighted in being with his friends and family. Retirement also brought time for reading – mostly history – writing, and his dogs. He lit and designed sets for the Abbey Theatre, St Albans International Organ Festival and St Albans Chamber Opera.
He is survived by Janet, by Nick, Natasha and me, six granddaughters and three grandsons.
