TIMOTHY (Tim) Locke, of Great Ayton, who has died aged 84, was a chemist with ICI on Teesside for many years and a preacher and active member of the Methodist Church.

He grew up in Northfield, Birmingham, graduated with a science degree in organic chemistry from Birmingham University, and obtained his doctorate from Imperial College London.

He first met his wife Mollie, who is originally from the Leeds area, on a coach during a church-related activity. The couple later moved to the North East and lived in Eaglescliffe during the early 1970s before moving to Great Ayton in 1973. Their two children, Alison and Christopher, went to school in Great Ayton and then Stokesley.

Dr Locke's chemical industry career included a long period with ICI through the 1970s, 80s and 90s based at the company's Billingham and Wilton sites on both sides of the River Tees.

His specialisms included development of detergents used for various purposes including household washing products. Later, following ownership changes at ICI, he worked with Astra Zeneca, which was formed when ICI's Zeneca merged with Swedish firm Astra AB. He also qualified as a patent attorney and worked in a self-employed capacity for many years.

In addition to being a scientist, Dr Locke was a committed Christian and an active member of the Methodist Church in the Great Ayton and Stokesley area. He was a preacher in the Methodist Church's Stokesley Circuit, which includes Great Ayton, Hutton Rudby, Easby, Seamer and Carlton. The circuit is part of the Methodist Church's larger Darlington district.

For much of his adult life, Dr Locke was active with the Methodist Church. Through different periods of time, he was a Great Ayton Sunday School leader and also organised a bible study group for adults. His Sunday School lessons for youngsters sometimes included open-reel tape recordings of songs by pop bands such as The Beatles or radio comedy sketches by Tony Hancock to introduce a theme. During the 1970s, Dr Locke and his wife became very good friends with the-then Great Ayton minister Alan Clark and his wife, Pat, who was a nurse.

During the 1980s, Dr and Mrs Locke ran a chapel youth club at Great Ayton, called the Venturers and Crusaders. Later, as their own children became adults, Dr Locke focused on local preaching through the 1990s.

The use of volunteer local preachers is a key part of the Methodist Church's structure and ethos, along with employed ministers. Local preachers are church members who travel around all the chapels in a circuit, or sometimes further, to take a variety of morning, afternoon or evening services.

Like all local preachers, Dr Locke regularly prepared his sermons and travelled around the network of chapels, over weeks, months and years, day and night and in all weather.

In other interests, Dr Locke sang in a choir, the Angrove Singers, which was formed in Great Ayton and has close links to the chapel.

At home, Dr and Mrs Locke were generous hosts. They held a Christmas party for friends and family over many years, which included food, games and a newspaper quiz.

Dr Locke lived generously, giving his time, talent and friendship. He will be sadly missed by his family and many friends. Although less active in later life, his many years of hospitality, Christian fellowship and local preaching will remain as a testimony to a life spent generously in service.

He is survived by his wife, Mollie, their children Alison and Christopher, six grandchildren and two great grand children.

Alison and Christopher gave the eulogy during a service of celebration for their father on March 16 at Great Ayton Methodist Church, the focal point for much of their father's life. The service was conducted by Great Ayton's Methodist minister, the Rev Rob Weir.