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Don Whitley Dies at the Age of 89

The directors of Don Whitley Scientific have announced the death, on 28 February after a short illness, of Don Whitley, founder and chairman of the company. Taking a keen interest in the company’s product development projects up until a few weeks before his death, Don would have celebrated his 90th birthday this coming June.

Don wanted to train as a doctor, but was dissuaded from doing so by his parents. He initially joined the staff of the Hospital for Women in Leeds as a student Medical Laboratory Technician, and for 10 years worked at Leeds Maternity Hospital and Killingbeck Hospital.

In 1956 Don joined Oxoid, now owned by ThermoFisher Scientific, as a technical representative, covering North East England and, later, the Republic of Ireland. Other sales and technical roles in several companies culminated in his appointment as Technical Director of the Bydand Group.

In 1973 Don and a Bydand Group colleague formed LIP (Equipment and Services) Ltd. Then, in 1976, with the proceeds of the sale of his minority shareholding in LIP, Don and his wife, Pam, started Don Whitley Scientific in the spare bedroom and basement of their home in Shipley. The company he founded now employs 89 staff and owns the majority shareholding in subsidiaries in Germany and Australia.

In 2009 Don was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science degree by the University of Bradford, acknowledging a lifetime of achievements in applied microbiology.

 

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Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
23-28 March, 2024

Pathology Horizons 2024

MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath
18-20 April, 2024

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The Catalyst, Newcastle upon Tyne
19 April, 2024

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Fira Gran Via, 08038 Barcelona, Spain
27-30 April 2024

British Society for Microbial Technology Annual Microbiology Conference

UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London
2 May 2024

EQA Reports: Interpreting Key Information & Troubleshooting Tips

ONLINE - Zoom
Thursday 16th May 2024

Access the latest issue of Pathology In Practice on your mobile device together with an archive of back issues.

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