Former Mayor of Rushcliffe and Bingham, George Davidson, dies aged 77
A senior lecturer and dedicated politician has died having led what his family describe as very full and distinguished life.
George Davidson, 77, a Liberal Democrat, served as both the Mayor of Rushcliffe and the Mayor of Bingham during his political career.
He first entered politics when he stood for a local election ward in 1975 and, in 2018, his commitment to local politics was recognised when he was presented with an award by Rushcliffe District Council for 40 years’ service.
Born in March 1942 in Gosforth, Newcastle, George, a winner of television’s Mastermind, was a lecturer in the field of group theory.
He attended Bilton En- dowed School and then Ashville College, being awarded various scholarships along the way.
In 1960, he was awarded a place at Jesus College Oxford where his passion for chemistry flourished.
In his final research year at Oxford he specialised in raman spectroscopy — technique typically used to determine vibrational modes of molecules — and this was to become an important part of his academic career for more than 30 years.
He went on to write numerous research articles and two books — Introductory Group Theory for Chemists 1971 and Group Theory for Chemists 1991.
It was while at Oxford that George met Diana Huddleston and they were engaged within months.
While at Oxford, George captained the Jesus College team on University Challenge in 1965 only being narrowly beaten in the semi-final by the team from Oriel College Oxford. To much embarrassment, a letter in the TV Times later referred to them as the Glamour Boys.
Television quiz shows featured again much later when he went on to win Mastermind in 1994.
Graduating from Oxford with first class honours, he went on to study for another three years to complete his doctorate.
While working on his thesis, George moved to the newly-founded York University in 1966.
It was here that George and Di’s first son, Tom, was born.
George left York in 1967 to take up a post of lecturer at Nottingham University.
While living in Wilford, George and Di’s second son, Matthew, was born.
In 1971 the family moved to Bingham, where they would remain, and where their third son, Hugh, was born.
George was involved with the Local History Society, Bingham Folk Club, including recording with his sea shanty group The Stormy Weather Boys, and local language speaking groups — French, German and he was learning Swedish.
He was also an avid collector of coins and stamps.
George, whose wife died in 2015, is survived by his three sons and five grandchildren.
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