The life and work of Ken Walters FRS (1934-2022)

Abstract

Ken Walters was one of the most prominent rheologists of recent times. He brought his mathematical training to rheology and pioneered analysis of many common test procedures. In order to do this he contributed to the formation of nonlinear constitutive equations for viscoelastic fluids and he was an early exponent of computational studies in rheology. He also applied his skills in fruitful collaborations with industry - notably the oil and china clay industries. He was born in Swansea, South Wales, in 1934 and he remained a devoted Welshman despite travelling widely. His academic studies in Swansea with James Oldroyd led to the PhD degree in 1959. In 1960, after a stint in the U.S.A., he was appointed as a Lecturer at Aberystwyth, and he remained there until his death in 2022. He built a very strong research team at Aberystwyth which became a dominant factor in the rheological scene in the United Kingdom.

He was a keen promoter of rheology and he assisted in the organisation of many conferences and meetings. He was the founding Editor of the Journal of Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics (JNNFM). He authored or co-authored four well-known books on rheology plus several tracts of a religious nature - Ken was always a devoted Christian. He was also a very able sportsman especially at cricket and golf. He is survived by his wife Mary, three children and seven grandchildren.