Magnus Pyke

Magnus Alfred Pyke OBE FRSE FRIC (29 December 1908 – 19 October 1992) was an English nutritional scientist, governmental scientific adviser, writer and presenter.

He wrote prolifically and became famous as a TV and radio personality, and was featured on Thomas Dolby's 1982 synth-pop hit, "She Blinded Me with Science".

"[1] He worked briefly for an insurance company before moving to Canada to attend Macdonald College, McGill University, Montreal, studying agriculture, gaining a BSc in 1933.

He lectured on practical nutrition for those working in institutions that provided food: these lectures were published by H.M. Stationery Office under the title The Manual of Nutrition (1945) [the revised 12th edition is still in print, published by the Food Standards Agency].

He supported the idea of using rose hip syrup to replace imported orange juice.

He became a council member of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1968, then secretary, and finally chairman in 1973, a position he held until 1977.

[5][3] Pyke wrote dozens of scientific papers and publications on food and nutrition, and their links to technology and social change.

[10] He died on 19 October 1992 at Elmsbank Nursing Home, Carlton Drive, Wandsworth, London.