Geologist and lecturer at Glasgow University

Born: October 11, 1938;

Died: March 20, 2017

DR James Brooks, who has died aged 78, was a distinguished scientist in the field of earth and life sciences whose investigation of the chemical components in the world’s oldest rocks pushed the evidence for life back to at least 3,500 million years ago. He was a visiting professor and guest lecturer all over the world, including for a number of years at the University of Glasgow.

Dr Brooks' work, including that on the nature and structure of the polymer sporopollenin, often brought him to the frontiers of the science and faith debate although he felt there need be no conflict between the two. In 1985 he published, with Lion Publishers, a beautifully produced book Origins of Life.

He came from a working class background in the textile village of Saltaire in Yorkshire and was the first of his family to go into higher education, enrolling at the Bradford Institute of Technology, which became the University of Bradford in 1966.

He played cricket there and captained the university 1st X1 football team for several years and remained very proud of his association with the university and obtained the full spectrum of its degrees – bachelor, master and doctor. He recently retired as president of the University Alumni Association.

He had an interesting and successful career in both academia and industry. In 1971 he was the UK Government exchange scientist to USSR when the Iron Curtain was still very much in place, and in 1977 the Royal Society visiting scientist to India.

In 1977 he joined the British National Oil Corporation (later Britoil) and became section head responsible for the exploration and development of the Brae Complex of North Sea Oil Fields.

He has authored or co-authored 18 books and over 80 original papers in his scientific field. His list of achievements is a long one – fellow of Royal Society of Chemistry, fellow of the Geological Society (of which he served as vice-president and honorary secretary), and founder and first chairman of the Petroleum Group of the Geological Society of London.

In 1993, he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists; in 1999, the Distinguished Service Award from the Geological Society; and in 2001, the Doctor of Science Degree from his beloved Bradford University. In that citation, he was described as a candidate in the school of life sciences who has made significant and widely recognised research contributions in chemistry, geology and petroleum sciences.

He had a full life outside of university and industry. He travelled widely and took great delight in his marriage, his children and grandchildren. His interest in football remained throughout his life. He had taken an FA coaching course and acted as honorary scout for Ipswich and Brighton.

Underpinning all of his life was his strong Christian faith. He served in local church leadership, as a lay-preacher and as president of the Baptist Union of Scotland in 2002/3.

He was a stubborn Yorkshire man, a staunch Labour supporter, a great encourager of young people, a loyal friend and a sympathetic listener.

He is survived by his wife, Jan, whom he married in 1973, children Daniel and Naomi and his four grandchildren.