[3] After primary education in Southgate, Linstead attended the City of London School from the age of 11 to 17, where the science master, George H J Adlam,[4] was a considerable influence.

He joined Imperial College in 1920, and graduated three years later with first class honours, before continuing to a PhD in Sir Jocelyn Thorpe's group.

Patrick Linstead can be heard in a speech at the Mansion House dinner celebrating the 50th anniversary of the College in 1957.

His second marriage was in Aberdare on 11 July 1942,[8] to Marjorie Walters, a DPhil from Somerville College, Oxford.

Sir Patrick Linstead died from a heart attack on 22 September 1966 at St George's Hospital, which was then on the site of the present Lanesborough Hotel at Hyde Park Corner.