Len Kersley, 12 June 2003.The solar-terrestrial physics community will be saddened to learn of the sudden death in Cardiff yesterday of Professor Phil Williams at the age of 64.
After an early scientific career in radio astronomy, Phil Williams was appointed to the staff of the University of Wales, Aberystwyth in 1967. He quickly became interested in incoherent scatter radar, being involved in early work in UK on the development of the technique and subsequently he played key roles in the establishment and direction of the EISCAT project. He spent several years in Scandinavia on secondment as Assistant Director of the EISCAT Scientific Association and was a pioneer in the use of the facility to study the solar wind using interplanetary scintillations.
In parallel with his scientific career, Phil had a long interest in the politics of Wales. He played an influential role in the leadership group of Plaid Cymru for several decades and was elected to the first National Assembly of Wales in 1999. As a member for South-East Wales he quickly made his mark, being named Welsh Politician of the Year in 2000.
He chose not to seek re-election last month and had been planning to take up a more active involvement in scientific research.
The entire STP community will miss Phil's outgoing enthusiasm and will wish to extend sympathy to his wife Ann and their two children and families.