At Age 11 In 1960,

Therefore, I Reasoned That Study Of The Cell Cycle Responsible For The Reproduction Of Cells Was Important And Might Even Be Illuminating About The Nature Of Life.

I Was Never Very Good At Exams, Having A Poor Memory And Finding The Examination Process Rather Artificial, And There Never Seemed To Be Enough Time To Follow Up Things That Really Interested Me.

My Parents Were Neither Wealthy Nor Academic, But We Lived Comfortably And They Were Always Extremely Supportive Of My Academic Efforts And Aspirations, Both At School And University.

This Possibility Bothered Me As I Thought It Was Not Advisable To Remain In One Academic Environment, And The Long Dark Winters In Edinburgh Could Be Rather Dismal.

I Think It Was This Curiosity About The Natural World Which Awoke My Early Interest In Science.