Edgar Scott Lower

As technical director at the Croda Research Establishment, at Snaith, near Goole, he did much pioneering work on lanolin and wool grease, which were the company's main products in the late 1940s, gradually establishing himself as a world authority on the materials.

He was involved in the development of a vast amount of Croda's products which became a backbone of the company's success, and remain a major part of their reputation for specialist chemicals.

Mr Lower was born in Leeds but the family moved to Rawcliffe, near Goole, in 1921 when he was four. He attended Rawcliffe Church of England School where the headmaster, a Mr Watson, realised he had no interest in sport or playing games and instead gave him science books to read.

One day, when he was 14 and ready to leave school, his father stopped whilst on his way to work at Thorne Colliery and called in at a small company that had taken over Rawcliffe water works building to ask if they needed an office boy.

His son was taken on at Croda where his arrival increased the workforce to a total of seven. When that school leaver retired in 1974 the company employed more than six thousand people worldwide.

He rose through the company and in 1939 was appointed chief chemist, becoming responsible for many new products needed for the Second World War.

During the war, he served with the Home Guard because, as he put it in his self deprecating way, with the state of his eyesight you wouldn't have wanted him at the other end of a gun.

In 1945, he became Technical Director setting up Croda's first specific research laboratory at the Rawcliffe Bridge factory and, in 1949, was appointed as a director at the age of 28.

When he retired, he was the company's longest serving director with a position on the main board.

He was also involved in the purchase of Cowick Hall, at Snaith, that remains to this day as Croda's head office. He often reminisced of the day he wrote the 1m cheque for the hall.

When he retired at the age of 57 a plaque was put up at the Cowick Hall laboratories dedicating them to him, and today's scientists work in the Edgar Lower Laboratories.

He was a modest man with a quiet self-assurance, never boasting of his achievements, but always very proud and honoured to be a part of Croda

and that he had grown up with them from being a young village boy.

He was always grateful for the ability people saw in him and the chances he had been given in life.

Mr Lower was married three times. His first wife, Annie, died after a long illness, leaving him with his young daughter Rosamund, and his second wife, Pat, died in 1972, leaving him with his son Graham who was 15.

He was immensely proud of his children, his son now a successful haulage contractor and his daughter an international teacher of neuro linguistic programming.

He met his third wife, Marjorie, in November 1972 whilst she worked at Croda, and after a long engagement whilst their respective families grew up, they married in September 1984 and celebrated their silver wedding anniversary last year. He died on her birthday.

Mr Lower was also an inspiration to his three stepsons. Anthony Holman followed in his footsteps into the chemistry world, working in Shell Australia's oil and gas fields. Leslie is a control and instrument engineer at Drax Power station, near Selby, while Andrew has been successful in the building and design trade.

Deteriorating health meant Mr Lower spent the last three-and-a-half years of his life living at Hook Hall residential home, Goole.

His funeral will be held at Rawcliffe Parish Church on Monday at 10.15am.