Obituary: Professor Terence Ingold

Chair of Botany and Vice-Master of Birkbeck

Professor Terence Ingold was one of the world’s leading mycologists and a major figure in the development of new universities at home and abroad. He died on 31 May 2010 - a few weeks short of his 105th birthday.

Ingold’s botanical studies of fungi were driven by a fascination with form, how it develops and how it relates to function. His best known studies were of aquatic hyphomycetes, which he collected from the foam of river banks. In recognition of his discoveries, these weirdly shaped fungal spores came to be known as Ingoldian Fungi.

Professor Ingold took up the prestigious Chair of Botany at Birkbeck in 1944. He held this post for 28 years until 1972 and was Vice-Master of the College from 1965 to 1970. Ingold also held several senior posts at the University of London including Dean of the Faculty of Science and Deputy-Vice-Chancellor (1966-68). He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1970, in recognition of his work with overseas universities.