Howard (Sid) Thomas

Last updated: 15 Jul, 2022

It is with a heavy heart that we report the untimely passing of Sid Thomas on 12th July 2022, following his recent hospitalisation with complications from a lung infection. Many of you will know him as a former Editor of New Phytologist (since 1991 I believe, until 2007) and more recently (since 2011) as a member of the Board of Trustees and Treasurer to the New Phytologist Foundation.

Sid was a remarkable person, not only in his academic and scholarly activities, but also as a huge supporter of the New Phytologist Foundation. He has kept us on the straight and narrow financially in his role as Treasurer, and has thereby provided the means to support the Foundation’s diverse charitable activities through guiding our finances and investment strategy over many years. This included more recent support for the establishment of our second journal, Plants, People, Planet, for which he was a strong advocate. He was a wonderful colleague and friend to many of us, and kept us entertained with his stories told in a way only a Welshman can. He was also a jazz musician and composer, and an author of books and articles on music and literature as well as science - a man of many talents who will be hugely missed by those who had the pleasure of knowing him.

We will find a way to commemorate his life. Our thoughts go out to his wife Helen and son Ben.

Prof. Keith Lindsey
Chair of Trustees
New Phytologist Foundation