In Memoriam
John Greening 1922 -2015

It is with profound regret that ICRU has learned of the death of John Greening. Because of his expertise and international reputation John was asked to join ICRU in 1966 and served as a Commissioner until 1981. During that period, he contributed to many ICRU reports and especially reports dealing with the dosimetry and application of photons and neutrons to radiation therapy (reports 23, 24 and 26). His knowledge, wisdom, diplomacy and sense of humor contributed greatly to these reports and the work of the Commission. John was born in 1922. At 18 he began work in aeronautics at the National Physical Labs, England . While employed at NPL and during the London Blitz John attended night classes and obtained a degree in physics with first class honors from London University, an unprecedented achievement for a part time student. Having decided to apply physics to medicine he obtained an appointment as assistant physicist at the Westminster Hospital where his research led to a PhD at the University of London. This was followed by a post as senior physicist at St George’s Hospital. While at St George”s he became president of the Hospital Physicist’s Association. In 1957 John moved to Edinburgh to become head of the Department of Medical Physics where he was able to facilitate training of graduate students and hospital staff and to foster a commitment to research In addition to his infectious love of physics, teaching and research John enjoyed sports, chess, photography and computing and above all his family. His love of physics and his lecturing skills, led to the development of a very popular talk on the physics of golf. ICRU shares with John’s family and his colleagues a profound sense of loss of a friend and colleague who leaves behind a wealth of accomplishments, contributions and friends.