Peter Higgs 29 May 1929 – 8 April 2024

We were today informed by our Principal that our (emeritus) colleague and Nobel winner Peter Higgs passed away on Monday. Famous for the discovery of the "goddamn particle" (as it was originally supposed to be nicknamed, but the publishers objected), he also had a couple of sparring matches with Richard Dawkins on the relation between theology and religion. Peter, an atheist himself, was also an "accommodations". I met him once at a Union meeting (he turned the physics department into the militant arm of the AUT), and he was the nicest, unassuming and kindest person you could wish to meet.