A forensic-minded scientist with a love of fun and mischief, Jim Shine was a devoted husband, loving father, brother, grandfather, loyal friend and wonderful colleague, who will be enormously missed by friends and family.

Born on May 28th 1945 to Ben and Nessa Shine, the young Jim grew up in Fethard, Co. Tipperary, with younger brother Benny. A talented artist from a young age, he enjoyed football and hurling, and was a gifted sprinter in his early days.

Educated at the local Patrician School, Jim served as an altar boy at the local Augustinian church before being awarded a scholarship to the De La Salle College in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford. A diligent student, in his teens he was awarded another scholarship to St Joseph’s University College, Co, Carlow. 

Invariably, wherever Jim could be found, so too could music be heard. A lifelong love was forged at a young age and he played the accordion and tin whistle as a youngster, before mastering the guitar. With a natural feel for music, he could lift any instrument and pick out a tune at will, a skill which stood him in good stead as a young man in London when he would perform on stage in a band, together with his father Ben on the violin.

The Shines emigrated from Ireland to the UK in 1963, and he completed his education in London before starting work at Rank Hovis McDougall in 1965, an organisation to which he would dedicate his entire 40-year career as a cereal scientist. 

Jim loved London of the sixties and as the decade drew to a close he met Siobhan. In a whirlwind romance they married in 1969, just six months after meeting. The skeptics of the day said it would never last, but they could hardly have been more wrong as the couple built a life and loving family over more than 50 years until Jim's death. Their children Ossian, Tara and Liam; and nine grandchildren, always remained the guiding light of Jim's life, and the recipients of his love and generosity.

After just a few years of marriage, Jim earned a promotion which brought with it a change of pace and lifestyle for the young family as, in 1973, Jim swapped the bright lights of London for Yorkshire's East Riding, exchanging nights of playing the pub circuit with his band for more sedate, rural pursuits, including Yorkshire village cricket. Jim continued to climb the professional ladder. He was rewarded with another promotion and in 1979 the family, now of five, moved to the south coast. 

In the 1980s Jim's career flourished as he became a pre-eminent expert in grains and an authoritative voice on trade bodies; travelling widely throughout Europe and global wheat producing giants including Canada and China always searching for, in his words, the perfect wheat for the perfect flour for the perfect bread. Throughout these travels Jim would make firm friends as well as burnish a talent for after-dinner speeches, a skill which would later prove useful.

Jim's expertise was widely recognised by colleagues and beyond. European mill owners speak fondly of him, while another industry leader would say "...with Jim (a problem) never seemed like a problem -- more an education, given with a wry smile and a twinkle in the eye".

That ability to impart knowledge led to Jim producing videos and lectures for Chemistry students at the Open University. 

Showing great capacity for balancing a demanding career with the challenges of home life, while his career was growing Jim simultaneously took an increasingly large role at the nursing home run by Siobhan. An instant hit with the elderly residents, he befriended many and performed numerous roles from driver, to musical entertainer, to Father Christmas on many occasions. An enthusiastic and skilled cook at home, Jim applied his scientific attention to detail in the kitchen, and loved nothing more than cooking for always appreciative friends and family.

An active member of the Knights of Saint Columba for most of his life, in 1988 Jim joined the Catenians. Their central tenets of friendship, family and faith spoke to the essence of Jim and for more than 30 years he greatly cherished the friendships forged in the Catenian family. He was the President of the Southampton Circle from 1999-2000 and also 2012-2013, during which second term he co-hosted a very successful Centenary Celebration. He became renowned for his after-dinner stories and jokes, a capacity for which made him a highly popular visitor to other circles while President.

Provincial President from 2003-2004, fellow Catenians describe Jim as always encouraging, helpful and thoughtful, and generous with his time and experience. 

After retiring from his career in 2005, Jim was able to further indulge his love of travel with more trips to such far-flung places as Malaysia, Singapore and Sri Lanka, always immersing himself in the culture, and making friends with the locals. His favourite trips, though, were always to Ireland - the country he left in 1963 but which had never left him. Irish music continued to run through his veins and from the comfort of his Hampshire home he remained immersed in the minutiae of Irish politics. Obscure Irish newsletters were an ever-present on his iPad, and he took great pride and pleasure in speaking Irish to his grandchildren in Co. Cork.

Family remained his focus to the end, and he was never happier than when playing with his grandchildren; speaking Irish to them, playing music with them, fishing with them, teasing and joking with them. Singing to them, reading to them and even flying down a zipwire with them. 

His absence leaves a hole in many lives, but we feel his love still.