John Reid, one of South Africa’s leading paint technologists and key tutor of young paint chemists, has passed away.
Reid has for almost two decades been a senior lecturer for the SA Paint Industry Training Institute (SAPITI), the training arm of the SA Paint Manufacturing Association (SAPMA). He served on the SAPMA Technical Committee from 1986, as chairman until 2000, and then as a member until his death and was also a member of the SABS Technical Committee.
UK-born Reid, after completing his degree in Organic Chemistry at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, joined the paint industry in the UK in 1960. He started his SA career by joining Plascon Evans Paint in Durban in 1969 and moved to Johannesburg in 1983 to join AECI /Dulux in 1983, after spending 11 years with Fergusson’s Paints in Durban.
In 2000, Reid became senior tutor for SAPITI and began teaching the Technology Programme for the development of paint chemists in South Africa all of whom who would testify to his role in the development of their careers.
Deryck Spence, executive director of SAPMA, says: “John’s reputation as a valued tutor and instructor is unequalled and countless SAPITI students have had the privilege of being instructed and introduced into the world of coatings world under John’s caring guidance. He will be sorely missed.”
Aggie Argyrou, chairman of SAPMA, states: “The loss of one of the coatings industry’s most skilled and dedicated tutors is devastating. His passing has left a huge vacuum in the paint industry’s training resources.”
Terry Ashmore, former chairman of SAPMA, adds: “John Reid’s dedication to training young chemists was selfless and he played an invaluable role in the introduction of SAPITI training courses which he continued to support for the rest of his life.”