TRIBUTES have been paid to a retired senior Durham University lecturer who has died.

Dr Geoff Endean was known as a world authority on ball lightning and published papers on cosmology.

He died last Wednesday after years of suffering from progressive supranuclear palsy, a degenerative condition related to Parkinson's disease.

His son, Alex, said: "Despite the challenges of the disease, which eventually took his life, he remained in good spirits and humour to the last.

"He had an unerring faith in people and brought the best out of those whose lives he touched.

"His geniality and loyalty set an example for many and he will be sadly missed."

Dr Endean was born in Liverpool in the late 1930s and moved to London as a child.

During his early career in the Royal Navy, he took a degree at Cambridge University. Later, he served in the Mediterranean and Far East.

On leaving the Royal Navy as Lieutenant Commander, in 1968, he resumed an academic career taking a doctorate at Oxford University, on ball lightning.

He was IBM University Junior Research Fellow and Honorary Weir Junior Research Fellow at University College.

In 1973, he moved with his wife and five children to Durham and took a lectureship at the University of Durham in the engineering department.

He was also appointed a tutor at Collingwood College, where he was held in high regard, and a senior lecturer in 1979.

On retiring from the university in 1993, he continued his academic research and published several papers on electronics.

A keen bridge player, holding the rank of life master, Dr Endean represented the Durham Bridge Club in national competitions.