Bolton's Nobel Laureate Sir Harry Kroto remembered at university

Sir Harry Kroto received the Nobel Prize for the discovery of Buckminsterfullerene, or ‘Bucky Balls’, alongside Robert Curl and Richard Smalley.

Born in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, to parents Edith Krotoschiner and Heinz Krotoschiner, who went on to take the surname Kroto, Sir Harry came to the town in 1940 as an infant.

He lived on Withins Lane, Breightmet, Arkwright Street, Bolton and Peel Street, Westhoughton, the last of which was close to the factory his father used to make and to print balloons.

Attending Wolfenden School then Bolton School, where he was a classmate of Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Harry developed a love of chemistry thanks to his teacher Professor Harry Heaney.

In the 1960s, he achieved a BSc and a PhD at the University of Sheffield, which is where he met wife Lady Margaret Kroto.

The discovery of ‘Bucky Balls’, or C-60, came in the 1980s when Sir Harry went to a university in Houston, Texas, to work with Curl and Smalley. They received the Nobel Prize in 1996.

The discovery became a focus for him up until his death aged 76 in 2016.

On Wednesday, Sir Harry was remembered for his contribution to chemistry when a bust was revealed at the University of Bolton, one of 44 universities to award him an honorary degree.

In attendance were Lady Margaret and Professor Heaney, as well as ex-Bolton MP and chemist Dr Brian Iddon and University of Bolton vice-chancellor Professor George Holmes, who were instrumental in the idea to recognise his achievements.

Dr Iddon said: “I’m thrilled I’ve reached the point of having a Nobel Laureate recognised in Bolton.

“You cannot pick up a journal without seeing something which sprung from Harry Kroto’s research.”

Professor Holmes said: “When Dr Iddon talked to me about the opportunity to recognise a world class man from this town I jumped at the opportunity.

“This is a spectacular moment for a top 30 British university to recognise this world class scholar.”

A highlight of the ceremony at the National Centre for Motorsport Engineering, where the bust by sculptor and surgeon Professor Nadey Hakim is to remain, was a message from Sir Ian.

He remembered his time at Bolton School with Sir Harry including starring in a production of Henry V.

He said: “We were lucky to be at a school which encouraged our individuality inside the classroom and outside the classroom.

“Harry and I often said how grateful we were to be at such a school which still thrives.

“Now Bolton has a university and it is wonderful Harry should be remembered there.

“He’s one of Bolton’s greatest sons, a dear man, and never more in his element than when enthusing young people to take an interest and to understand the chemistry he adored.”

Afterwards Lady Margaret told The Bolton News: “I have to give a lot of thanks to Dr Iddon, who was a wonderful MP for Bolton. I’ve never lived in Bolton myself but when he said he wanted to do something to recognise Harry I was so pleased.

“He grew up here so he had some fondness for the town although he didn’t live there after the age of 18.”

This article was written by Jack Tooth. To contact him, email jack.tooth@newsquest.co.uk or follow @JTRTooth on Twitter.