Magnus Pyke facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Magnus Pyke OBE FRSE FRIC
Pyke at home in 1987
Born	Magnus Alfred Pyke (1908-12-29)29 December 1908 Paddington, London, England
Died	19 October 1992(1992-10-19) (aged 83) Wandsworth, London, England
Nationality	British
Alma mater	McGill University, Montreal University College London
Spouse(s)	Dorothea Vaughan ​ ​ (m. 1937; her death 1986)​
Children	2
Scientific career
Fields	Nutritionist

Magnus Alfred Pyke (29 December 1908 – 19 October 1992) was a famous British scientist. He was a nutritionist, which means he studied food and how it helps our bodies. He also worked for the government, wrote many books, and became a well-known TV and radio personality. You might even recognize his voice from the 1982 song "She Blinded Me with Science" by Thomas Dolby!

Early Life and Education

Magnus Pyke was born in London, England, in 1908. He went to St. Paul's School in London. After a short time working for an insurance company, he moved to Canada.

In Canada, he studied agriculture at McGill University in Montreal. He earned his science degree in 1933. During his summer breaks, he worked as a farm helper. He lived in Canada for seven years.

He returned to the UK in 1934. He became the chief chemist at a company called Vitamins Ltd. He worked with Professor J.C. Drummond to research vitamins. In 1936, he earned his Ph.D. in biochemistry. In 1937, he married Dorothea Mina Vaughan, and they had two children.

Helping During Wartime

In 1941, during World War II, Pyke joined the Ministry of Food. He and Professor Drummond studied how food shortages affected people's nutrition. He gave talks about healthy eating for people who provided food in schools and hospitals.

These talks were later published as a book called The Manual of Nutrition. He also supported using rose hip syrup. This helped replace orange juice, which was hard to get during the war. After the war, he advised the Allied Commission for Austria. He continued to work on healthy diets and teaching about nutrition.

Later Scientific Work

In 1949, Magnus Pyke joined The Distillers Company. He worked in their yeast research division. He became the manager of this division in 1955 and retired in 1973.

Pyke was very active in promoting science. He was the chairman of the Nutrition Society (Scotland) and a member of many other scientific groups. He became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1956. He also became chairman of the British Science Association in 1973. He believed that food companies helped society. He often defended them when people said their products were unhealthy.

Becoming a TV Star

Magnus Pyke started broadcasting on BBC radio in 1953. He gave talks about science and technology. In 1974, he appeared on a TV show called Don't Ask Me. On this show, he and other experts answered popular science questions.

He became famous for his energetic way of speaking. He used lots of hand gestures and was very passionate. He also appeared on popular radio shows like Any Questions? and Just a Minute. He even appeared on Desert Island Discs. He called this time his "sixth life."

In 1975, a science magazine asked readers to name the most famous scientist. Pyke came third, after Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein! He also won awards for his TV work.

TV Appearances

Awards and Recognition

Magnus Pyke received special honorary degrees from several universities. These included the University of Stirling (1974), Lancaster University (1976), and his old university, McGill University (1981). In 1978, he was given the title of Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This is a special award from the British government.

Later Life

Pyke stopped regular broadcasting in 1980, though he still made occasional TV appearances. He cared for his wife at home until she passed away in 1986. Magnus Pyke died on 19 October 1992, in London.

See also

• Geoffrey Pyke (his first cousin)