Mireille Consalvey PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

Acknowledgments
There are a lot of people who have helped me get this far and I would like to
thank everyone from both the academic and social sides, and those that bridged
the divide between the two! The Gatty has been a great place to play and work
and many thanks to everyone there for everything over the last 4 years!
I would like to start by thanking David Paterson for introducing me to All Miles
back in 1996 and giving me the opportunity to join SERG for a summer, a life
changing moment! Thanks for the injections of enthusiasm along the way and for
your open door and mind. And Graham Underwood, my Essex supervisor, for his
honest straightforwards approach, for his, and his family's hospitality down in
Essex, and for the blue sparkly pen edits!
Claire Honeywill with whom I spent many insane hours with on the Eden Estuary
being spooked to my boots and who was an inspiration to work with, never
doubted me and above all a fantastic mate.
Irvine Davidson my very own "lab dad". Irvine I can never thank you enough for
all the patient hours on the LTSEM, for everything around the lab, for keeping me
grounded and most of all for yours and Carol's continued friendship and support,
this small bit of typing can never do you justice!
Roo Perkins whose combination of tough love and kid gloves will never be
forgotten. Hopefully this book is a small testament to those hours of fluorescence
discussions and endless analogies! Its been a real pleasure to work with you and
even better to have found such a top mate from scary beginnings!
Simon Merrywest who did alot more than cakes and kitkats, many thanks for your
patient proof reading, for continually making me laugh, a friendship I have valued
and for staying true during the highs and the lows. Thanks taddy boy!
Emma Defew who has been a colleague, friend and flatmate. Thanks for the
never-ending cups of tea, dogsitting above and beyond the call of duty, proof
reading and for all your love and support along the way. We'll always have
Brussels! And my other Tuesday night girl Catherine Biles for being a great office
mate, proof reading, smiles and whose badminton club provided many welcome
distractions.
Thanks to everyone in the SERG family: Heather Austin whose kindness and
generosity of spint have made all the difference, Trevor Tolhurst who was there
from the very start and whose ready supply of chocolate and hugs in equal
measures are much treasured, Irene Taylor for her optimism and encouragement,
Rich Ford and Kevin Black who provided many fun and challenging
conversations along the way and who have the unique ability to rally the spirit.
And ofcourse Portuguese Bruno Jesus: always challenging and with whom I spent
many nights in the Gatty cold room. We did progress! And to the new SERG girls
Rebecca and Susi who have only known me in write up mode but who have
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