C. H. Gimingham


Charles Henry Gimingham was a British botanist at the University of Aberdeen, patron of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, former president of the British Ecological Society, and one of the leading researchers of heathlands and heathers.

Early life and education

Gimingham was the son of Conrad Theodore Gimingham, of Harpenden, Hertfordshire, and Muriel Elizabeth. He was named after his grandfather, another Charles Henry Gimingham, an eminent British entomologist who was President of the Association of Applied Biologists.
Gimingham was educated at Gresham's School, Holt, and Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was an open Scholar and graduated BA in 1944, then at Aberdeen University, graduating Doctor of Philosophy.

Career

Gimingham began his career as a Research Assistant, first at Imperial College, London from 1944–1945, then at the University of Aberdeen from 1946–1948. He continued his academic career in Aberdeen, becoming a lecturer in 1948, a senior lecturer in 1961, a Reader in Botany in 1964, a Professor in 1969, and a Regius Professor in 1981, a post he held until 1988.
He was also a member of several governing bodies and advisory boards related to his field, including the Countryside Commission for Scotland, the Board of Management of the Hill Farming Research Organisation, the Council of Management of the Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, the Governing Body of the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, the Advisory Board of Robert Gordon University Heritage Unit, the Scientific Advisory Committee of Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scientific Advisory Panel of RSK Environment Ltd, and the Mar Lodge Estate Management Committee of National Trust for Scotland. He was also the convenor of the English Nature Heathlands Committee from 1981 to 1995.
He was also a member of the Governing Body of Aberdeen College of Education, and served as editor of the Outline Studies in Ecology series, and on the editorial board of the Botanical Journal of Scotland.

Honours

In 1948, Gimingham married Elizabeth Caroline, the only daughter of J. Wilson Baird, DD, Minister of St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen, and they have three daughters.

Books