on the National Health Service (reporting in 1979) and though initially certain of its key recommendations were resisted, later a number formed the basis of NHS reform. Other public responsibilities included Chair of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals 1979–1981, and the Chair of the Advisory Board for the Research Councils 1978–1983, succeeding Sir Frederick Stewart. Internationally, his association with CERN (the European Organization for Nuclear Research) resulted in his being made President of the CERN Council in 1982. He served to 1985 and his presidency saw Spain rejoining the project and he campaigned to retain UK membership of CERN. He was active in the general life of Bristol, serving as a Governor of the Bristol Old Vic theatre and was involvements including the Bristol Evening Post and Bristol Waterworks Company. On retirement from Bristol University, Merrison became a Director of Lloyds Bank and Chairman of its Western Regional Board. He was also Chairman of the Western Provident Association. Death Merrison died on 19 February 1989. He was survived by his second wife, Maureen, Lady Merrison, with whom he had a son, Ben Merrison, and a daughter, Andria Merrison. He had two sons, Tim and Jonathan Merrison from his first marriage with his first wife, Beryl, who died in 1968. Honours Merrison received the Institute of Physics' Charles Vernon Boys Prize for 1961 for his work on the measurement of electron decay. He was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society in 1969 and knighted in 1976. He received honorary degrees from a number of universities including Bristol, Bath and Liverpool and was appointed High Sheriff of Avon for 1986–1987. References 1924 births 1989 deaths British physicists People associated with CERN Vice-Chancellors of the University of Bristol People from Wood Green Academics of the University of Liverpool Alumni of King's College London Fellows of King's College London Fellows of the Royal Society Knights Bachelor People educated at Enfield Grammar School People educated at Tottenham Grammar School Presidents of the Institute of Physics