A RETIRED university professor who spent his academic life researching physics and astronomy has been remembered for producing work ahead of its time.

David Bailin, who started working at the University of Sussex in 1965, died at the age of 79 on Wednesday, March 14.

David, right, who was originally from London but lived in Hove, was educated at Westminster City School before studying at Cambridge University.

He served as emeritus professor of theoretical physics at the university after spending his 38 years working there in various roles.

During this time, he worked as chairman of physics and astronomy and president of the Sussex branch of the Association of University Teachers, which is now known as the University and College Union.

While working as chairman, David helped to bring a new lease of life to the department, which led to it branching out to research and lecture in other areas of physics.

One of his earlier works, Weak Interactions, which was a graduate student series about his research in the field of physics, was published by Sussex University Press in 1977.

His work on this topic was highly influential, with his hypothesis about the existence of a heavy W boson particle being of particular significance, as it was not discovered until two decades later.

Having written hundreds of research papers during his time working in higher education, he also had a number of books published covering other topics, such as cosmology and quantum field theory.

After David retired in 2003, he continued to work in the areas he was most passionate about, including researching string theory, which focuses on the existence of cosmic strings and how they interact with each other.

As well as dedicating time in retirement to continue his research, he also went on to serve on the editorial board of the scientific journal Contemporary Physics.

His colleagues at the university remember him for his “warmth, wisdom and kindness”.

The university is now planning an event to celebrate David’s work there over the years.