Farewell to scientist who worked all over the world
After family funeral for Stephen Court, rugby-loving professor remembered
A funeral service has been held for a Filey-born scientist, who worked all over the world during his glittering career.
Dr Stephen Court’s funeral was held in Adderbury, Oxfordshire, after his sudden death last month at the age of 56.
A former Filey Junior School pupil, he excelled in the classroom and on the rugby field.
But although his love for the game stayed with him throughout his life, it was his academic career that allowed him to travel the globe.
After gaining a PhD in Metallurgy from Leeds University, he took up a three-year research fellowship at the University of Illinois, before holding positions in Canada and Switzerland.
He also travelled to Asia, troubleshooting in Japan, while also working as a chief scientist in Switzerland before ultimately returning to the UK.
Back home, he took up the post of Operations Director of the University of Sheffield’s Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing and Research centre where he implemented the supply chains for the materials required to build nuclear power stations.
Over his professional life, he published over 75 journals and conference publications and was the author of two major reports associated with the power generation sector.
His expertise and experience in this sector was rewarded with a Professorship in 2013.
He married his wife Anne in 1985 in Filey and had two children, Nicholas and Isobel, eventually settling in Adderbury.
When he was not jetting around the world with or without family, Mr Court liked to relax, and watch sport on the TV.
He would often get together with his old school friends to watch rugby at Twickenham or cricket at Edgbaston. On April 12, Filey Fishermen’s Choir will be leading a ‘Service in Song’ at Emmanuel St John Methodist Church in St John’s Road, Scarborough, starting at 6.30 pm.
Transport will be by private cars, leaving Filey Bus Station at 5.45pm.
The choir is always on the lookout for new members, especially from the younger generations.
There are no auditions, so if you are interested, just come along to one of the weekly practices, and have a go on Saturday evenings 6.30-7.45 at Filey Methodist Church. For more information, call Roger Carr on 01723 514746, or e-mail roger-carr@hotmail.com