Desmond Kempson: Difference between revisions

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| birth_place              = Walsall, West Midlands
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| education                = St Paul's Cheltenham; London (BSc 1967)
| education                = [[Wikipedia:University of Gloucestershire|St Paul's College Cheltenham]] (c1952); London (BSc 1967)
| roles                    = Head of Science
| roles                    = Head of Science
| years_at_BGS              = 1973-c1987
| years_at_BGS              = 1973-c1987
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| spouse                    = Janet W Done
| partner                  =  
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| children                  = Alison; [[S Kempson]]
| children                  = Alison; [[S Kempson]]
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'''Desmond John Kempson''' was a teacher of Physics at [[Boston Grammar School]] (1973-c1987).
'''Desmond John Kempson''' was a teacher of Physics at [[Boston Grammar School]] (1973-c1987).
He served in the army in India. Before arriving at BGS  he had spent ten years at [[Wikipedia:King Edward VI Grammar School, Louth|Louth Grammar School]] followed by four years in the Head of Science post at [[Wikipedia:Chipping Campden School|Chipping Camden Comprehensive School]]. He took up the new role of Head of Science at BGS.


== Minor Disasters ==
== Minor Disasters ==
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*while demonstrating how friction generates heat by running [[Andrew Elsom]] up and down the bench, the subject's head became impaled on a gas tap;
*while demonstrating how friction generates heat by running [[Andrew Elsom]] up and down the bench, the subject's head became impaled on a gas tap;
*someone dropped the glass bottled [[Wikipedia:Radon|Radon]] generator, smashing it and causing radio-active powder to go everywhere. The laboratory was evacuated;
*someone dropped the glass bottled [[Wikipedia:Radon|Radon]] generator, smashing it and causing radio-active powder to go everywhere. The laboratory was evacuated;
*Mr Kempson touched the [[Wikipedia:Van de Graaff generator|Van de Graaff generator]] to prove how quickly it lost it's charge, but not on this occasion;
*Mr Kempson touched the [[Wikipedia:Van de Graaff generator|Van de Graaff generator]] to prove how quickly it lost its charge, but not on this occasion;
*someone dropped a bottle of [[Wikipedia:Mercury (element)|mercury]] which vanished into the floor and appeared a bit later in the chemistry labs via the ceiling. The laboratory was evacuated;
*someone dropped a bottle of [[Wikipedia:Mercury (element)|mercury]] which vanished into the floor and appeared a bit later in the chemistry labs via the ceiling. The laboratory was evacuated;
*while [[Wikipedia:electroplating|electroplating]] items with [[Wikipedia:Copper(II) sulfate|copper sulphate]] someone used a (mainly [[Wikipedia:magnesium|magnesium]]) pencil sharpener, thus causing a chemical reaction that quickly filled the entire laboratory with [[Wikipedia:hydrogen|hydrogen]]. The laboratory was evacuated.
*while [[Wikipedia:electroplating|electroplating]] items with [[Wikipedia:Copper(II) sulfate|copper sulphate]] someone used a (mainly [[Wikipedia:magnesium|magnesium]]) pencil sharpener, thus causing a chemical reaction that quickly filled the entire laboratory with [[Wikipedia:hydrogen|hydrogen]]. The laboratory was evacuated.

Latest revision as of 22:38, 9 April 2021

Desmond John Kempson

Desmond Kempson
Nicknames Odd Bod, Disco Des
Born 1927 (age 96–97)
Walsall, West Midlands
Education St Paul's College Cheltenham (c1952); London (BSc 1967)
Roles Head of Science
Years at BGS 1973-c1987
Departments Science
Subjects Physics
Notable work(s) Astronomical Society, Physics and Engineering Films, Radio and Electronics Society
Spouse Janet W Done
Children Alison; S Kempson

Desmond John Kempson was a teacher of Physics at Boston Grammar School (1973-c1987).

He served in the army in India. Before arriving at BGS he had spent ten years at Louth Grammar School followed by four years in the Head of Science post at Chipping Camden Comprehensive School. He took up the new role of Head of Science at BGS.

Minor Disasters

The following catalogue of disasters in Desmond Kempson's Physics classes was supplied by Pat Everitt.

  • while demonstrating centripetal force with a bucket of water, the handle broke;
  • while demonstrating how friction generates heat by running Andrew Elsom up and down the bench, the subject's head became impaled on a gas tap;
  • someone dropped the glass bottled Radon generator, smashing it and causing radio-active powder to go everywhere. The laboratory was evacuated;
  • Mr Kempson touched the Van de Graaff generator to prove how quickly it lost its charge, but not on this occasion;
  • someone dropped a bottle of mercury which vanished into the floor and appeared a bit later in the chemistry labs via the ceiling. The laboratory was evacuated;
  • while electroplating items with copper sulphate someone used a (mainly magnesium) pencil sharpener, thus causing a chemical reaction that quickly filled the entire laboratory with hydrogen. The laboratory was evacuated.

See Also