About Doug

Douglas Albert Gregory, also known as DAG, Greg, or Douglas to many, sadly passed away in the early morning of September 30th 2021.

He devoted his life to being a kind, considerate and compassionate friend, father and grandpa and will be sorely missed by those who knew him.

Originally from the market town of West Bromwich in the West Midlands and son of an Engineer and loving housewife, Doug was one of five children (elder brothers Walter and Sid and younger twin sisters Mary and Katie). He took a keen interest in science from a young age and won a state scholarship to the local grammar school. His love of science often saw him use his parent's garage to create chemical experiments causing many mini explosions in the process! With encouragement from teachers at his school, he left the family home to go to Bristol University where he created friends and memories in the City he would eventually settle in. It was at this time he met his first wife Zegerid, a nurse originally from Germany who he later settled down with and with whom he had his daughter Dagmar, who lovingly nursed him during his final days.

During his career he enjoyed success at British Aerospace and later became a research fellow at the University of Bristol.

Doug was forever doing his 'scribbles' and hoping to publish a masterpiece, advancing the ideas of 'speckle' and other musings too complicated to explore here! However, despite not publishing his 'write up', he nevertheless had many cited works published over the years. Click here for references.

In the early 1990s Doug met Muriel Chester, a specialist psychiatric nurse and lived with her and her daughter Sophie until Muriel died in 2010. Doug continued to live with Sophie and her Husband Deian, and welcomed with them their children Rhodri, Rhys and Mali whilst also maintaining his long-term home in Long Ashton, where enjoyed regular walks and friendships with close neighbours.

Doug was much loved by many and it was his numerous friends he met over the years which helped him cope with Muriel's passing. From swimmers at Clevedon, to skittlers, to boating friends, cricketers, neighbours and friends and colleagues from work and university, Doug enjoyed a colourful social life and brought joy and fun to many with his cheeky humour and infectious smile.