A FORMER pupil of Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School Blackburn, Professor Ian Duerden has died of cancer at the age of 55 in Canada.

Professor Duerden, a metallurgist, grew up in Blackburn and attended St Luke's Primary School.

He obtained a degree at Leeds University before studying at Oxford University to become a Doctor of Philosophy.

In 1966 he took up a research fellowship with the National Research Council of Canada and later joined the Western University of London in Ontario, Canada, where he remained until his death.

He was promoted to assistant professor in materials engineering and later associate professor. He also served as assistant dean of the faculty responsible for undergraduates and head of materials in the engineering department.

Professor Duerden researched the behaviour of metals under stress and was much sought after for accident research, particularly by the motor industry. He took sabbaticals to undergo research at UMIST in Manchester and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver.

Professor Duerden leaves a wife, Pam, a Canadian. The couple have two sons Michael and Paul. He was diagnosed with cancer three years ago.

John Tarbuck, his former headmaster at St Luke's, said: "Ian was a bright pupil and I knew he would do well. He had a great zest for life and a sense of integrity and honesty."

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