Heatley , Norman George , b 1911 , biochemist

Heatley was born in 1911 and educated at Tonbridge School and St John's College, Cambridge, where he graduated in 1933. From 1933 to 1936 he worked under Joseph Needham at the School of Biochemistry, Cambridge, on microchemical methods applied to biological problems, and obtained his doctorate in 1936. In September 1936 Heatley came at the invitation of H.W. Florey to the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Oxford, initially to work with E.B. Chain and, from October 1939, directly with Florey on the early research and development of penicillin. This close collaboration continued to June 1941 when Heatley accompanied Florey to the USA, bearing with him his research notebooks and sketches for apparatus. He remained there until June 1942. After his return to Oxford he resumed work at the Dunn School, and was a Nuffield Research Fellow of Lincoln College, 1948-1978. He was awarded the OBE in 1978 for his contributions to scientific research.