Saunders, Bernard (1903-1983), chemist and President of Magdalene College, Cambridge

Educated at Pembroke College. Lecturer in Natural Sciences at Magdalene, and University Demonstrator in Chemistry, from 1931. Made a Fellow in 1938.
Research on chemical warfare during the war, working on various ‘ nerve gases’; and after the war a regional scientific adviser on Civil Defence.
Director of Studies in Natural Sciences and Medicine, 1931-1973. Praelector or Deputy Praelector, 1949-1978. President, 1967-1973. Senior Proctor, 1943-1944.

In his honour rice pudding can always be requested at Magdalene as it was the only thing he could stomach after his wartime experiments.

Further reading:
Obituary: College Magazine No. 28 (1983–84) pp. 1-3 (P. J. Grubb)
Article: 'The Chemistry of B. C. Saunders', College Magazine, No. 56 (2011–12), p. 64-68