Harold Neville Vazeille Temperley


Professor Harold Neville Vazeille Temperley, better known as Neville Temperley, was an applied mathematician who made numerous contributions to the fields of statistical mechanics, graph theory and the physics of liquids and gases. He was awarded the title Doctor of Science as a fellow of King's College Cambridge, before working for the Admiralty on numerical modelling of underwater explosions during World War 2. He continued his work on the physical properties of liquids at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston until 1965.
Professor Neville Temperley was head of the Applied Mathematics Department at Swansea University for 17 years until his retirement in 1982. He received the Rumford Medal from the Royal Society in 1992.
His father, Harold William Vazeille Temperley, was a distinguished British historian. He was the father of Virginia Julian, creator of Somerset Cider Brandy, Humphrey of a fine wine producer and former Chairman of Somerset County Council and grandfather of: Alice Temperley, fashion designer of London, William Temperley, Mary Temperley, Matilda Temperley, Will Wagstaff, Edward Temperley editor of , Jane Wagstaff and Henry Temperley. He has nine great grandchildren.
In 2015, Temperley celebrated his 100th birthday. He died on 27 March 2017 at the age of 102.

Selected publications