His work was well regarded but, to his lasting regret, it never led to an academic appointment.

Next he studied asteroids and variable stars, meanwhile hoping for an academic appointment.

In 1967, he received his first academic appointment, as an instructor in clinical dermatology.

Despite many offers he never accepted another formal academic appointment, and refused all offers of honorary degrees.

Now it has become a curse, forcing taxpayerfunded universities to insist on the primacy of research over teaching in respect both of academic appointments and promotions.