Brian came to Bristol from Loughrea, Ireland in 1995 as a PhD student. He worked in the ACRG under the supervision of Professor Peter Simmonds and Dr Graham Nickless. Brian completed his PhD in 1999, but continued to work alongside Simon O'Doherty as a postdoctoral researcher working as part of the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE), a NASA-funded global measurement program for greenhouse and ozone-depleting gases in the atmosphere. During this time Brian also worked extensively with the Weiss research group at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, in San Diego, pioneering the development of novel instrumentation for the detection of key radiative gases in the atmosphere.

Brian had also been a lead researcher within the System for the Observation of Greenhouse Gases (SOGE) European monitoring network since 2000, where his work included responsibility for calibrations, training, instrumental operation, data quality and interpretation at four European field observation sites. He contributed actively to method development in both field sampling technology and femtogram analysis of tracer chemicals deployed in several urban dispersion experimental programmes, and together with colleagues in Switzerland, Brian also developed instrumental methods for monitoring greenhouse gases in China under the EU SOGE-A project.

Brian completed his postdoctoral work here in 2007 and was planning to continue his research under Professor Ron Prinn at MIT. However, chronic back problems prevented this move, and he continued to work in the ACRG as a Visiting Fellow in Bristol when his health would allow.

Brian’s contributions made a tremendous impact on the field of atmospheric observations, which are recognised both here and internationally. He loved to help others and was undoubtedly a key influence on a range of young researchers who passed through the labs. Brian’s general affability, caring nature, and attention to detail allowed him to pass on his vast amount of knowledge to others. Above all, he was a very decent man who will be greatly missed.