Obituary: Sir Gordon Cox

In his moving and fascinating tribute to his friend Gordon Cox [obituary, 1 July], Lord Dainton referred to Cox's students, inevitably themselves referred to as "Pippins". But not only did Cox have scientific Pippins - he also took the trouble to educate "political Pippins", writes Tam Dalyell.

In the summer of 1962, when I was elected to the House of Commons, Cox, having identified me as a likely young graft in Parliament, invited me with colleagues to spend a day with him as head of the Agricultural Research Council at the Fruit Research Station at East Malling. Vividly, I recollect not only the delicious cherries of many varieties - Cox was a connoisseur of cherries in the same way that others are connoisseurs of Burgundy - but his obviously wonderful relationship with staff and gardeners and his plea for politicians to take an interest in all the aspects of the work of the research councils. And this we did at his behest.

Never was there a more impressive, energetic advocate of the value to society of long-term serious scientific inquiry. Dainton mentions his cooling-off when his erstwhile friend Lord Rothschild championed customer-contractor principles. Cox did not hide his dismay and contacted personally every one of the political Pippins to speak with them.

I shall remember him at British Association meetings with Lady Cox, twinkle- eyed, looking to the future. I shall treasure having been a Pippin.