My father, Alan Rimmer, who has died aged 86, was a research chemist and senior production manager, and spent his whole working life at Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). Alan started out in research at ICI's Blackley facility in Manchester and a few years later transferred to the north-east to work at Wilton. After being involved in commissioning a new nylon plant in Scotland, he returned to Teesside for the remainder of his career. His last responsibility with ICI was as senior safety adviser responsible for the safety of the petrochemicals and plastics division.
Born in Rochdale, Alan grew up there and studied chemistry at University College London, graduating in two years. He was a keen oarsman with the university boat club and founded a Unitarian Society, making several lifelong friendships.
In 1960, while working on a project in Switzerland, Alan met Erika. They married in 1962. His interest in architecture enabled him to contribute to the design of a much-loved home, which was built for the family in Troon, South Ayrshire, in the early 1970s when he relocated there for four years.
In retirement, Alan and Erika greatly enjoyed travelling to China and South America. They often went to Newcastle and London to see plays and concerts. Alan had a number of other interests, among them stamp collecting and building model railway engines. His passion for design, and a desire to combine that with practical handcraft skills, led him to take up the art of silversmithing.
A lifelong reader of the Guardian, he routinely completed the crossword every morning, having read the paper from cover to cover.
He is survived by Erika, me, his sister, Madge, and his granddaughter, Georgina.