Ann Silver

https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.95.46

Many long-standing Members of The Society will be saddened to learn that Peter Mott died on 14 March. He was 84 and had been ill for some time.
Peter worked at Cambridge University Press and was responsible for overseeing the publication of many journals including The Journal of Physiology and the Meetings Abstracts. Later, when The Society took over the ailing Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology (now Experimental Physiology)

Peter contributed to discussions on the change to monthly publication with the resulting need for a new title and a new cover (an eye-catching red rather than the old sludge-green). I remember that when The Journal had to change to Persil-white paper from its traditional cream (suddenly no longer available) he managed to ensure that this happened between issues rather than within a run.

Those of us who were Editorial Board members at the relevant time will probably remember how Peter’s dry sense of humour helped defuse many a contentious argument. The Boards also benefited from his knowledge of food and wine, exercised to full effect when he organised the Annual Lunch that CUP gave to the Boards. Peter was always happy to show people round the Printing House after lunch and to explain its many facets. The machine that picked up single sheets of thin Bible paper, and the one that magically folded printed quarto pages, stick in my mind.

Things have changed since Peter’s day but those of us lucky enough to have known him, and his work for The Society, will look back with warm gratitude.