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Dr Hotchkiss passed away peacefully in his home on 19 August 2025, aged 73. He taught chemistry for 43 years, first at the University of Florida in Gainesville, then for five years at the King Faisal University in Hofuf in Saudi Arabia, then at Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Wakefield and finally for 32 years at Leeds Grammar School. Thousands of men and women were set onto a better path by passing through his classroom, and he is fondly remembered as a caring father figure, a superb chemist, a man of robust morals, wide travels, great humour, and tremendous courage.

Ian began his career at the University of Birmingham working with Professor J Colin Tatlow on the fluorination of hexafluorobenzene, decafluorocyclohexene, octafluorocyclohexa-1,4- & -1,3-diene and pentafluoropyridine, joining the RSC in 1972. At the University of Florida, he undertook postdoctoral research with Professor Paul Tarrant on the synthesis of fluoroolefins, before being invited to help build Saudi Arabia's first university, the King Faisal University, founded in 1975 at the behest of King Faisal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The university began with only four colleges, but now spans fifteen, with five exclusively dedicated to the education of women.

In 1980 Ian returned to England with his loving wife, Jacqueline Carol Hotchkiss BSc MSc MRSC, who sadly passed away on 19 May  2024, after 54 years of marriage. Jacqueline was Ian鈥檚 rock for his entire adult life, and they taught chemistry together for over four decades with a passion that is rarely seen today. Ian鈥檚 expertise and unfailing hard work earned him the roles of Head of Chemistry, Head of Science, Deputy Headmaster and AQA Chief Examiner for Chemistry A-Level and for Chemistry S-Level. He was recognised as a Chartered Chemist of the 萝莉社 in July 1991 and in 2023 was honoured for fifty years of membership with the 萝莉社.

A lifelong advocate of a strong scientific education for all, Ian worked for over a decade at the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, helping to develop the national curriculum for chemistry in the UK, inspecting schools and accrediting and monitoring chemistry qualifications. Not a day went by in Ian鈥檚 life that he did not work for the benefit of others, and he will be greatly missed. He is survived by his two sons, Jeffrey, 45, and David, 43.