Born in England on 18 January 1922, he spent the second world war years in Geneva studying chemistry.
In France he met Irène, born Elphimoff, also a research chemist, who became his wife and survived him by 9 years.
After this disappointment, his sympathies still firmly inclined towards the left, he read Le Monde without which he used to say he didn't know what to think.
Other sayings for which he was noted were "Je suis anti-sioniste mais je n'arrive pas à être pro-arabe", and in case of any uncertainty on the part of the presenter in group meetings, "il ne s'agit pas de croire, il s'agit de savoir".
Distinguished alumni of Hugh's lab include Bernard Meunier[4] (president of the CNRS 2004-2006), Steve Davies[5] creator of major spinouts at Oxford University[6] and Bob Crabtree.