An academic has made a fresh appeal to preserve the memory of Bradford's only Nobel Prize winner.

Professor Peter Excel, of Bradford University, has fought for the scientist Sir Edward Appleton to be commemorated in the city for more than ten years.

But despite a variety of schemes and ideas, the city is yet to build a substantial memorial to one of its most famous sons.

Previous failed attempts for the Bradford-born scientist to be remembered include a statue in Exchange Square, a museum and preservation of the house in Wingfield Street where he grew up.

"The statue was put into the hands of public arts and it was supposed to be an opportunity for a Yorkshire artist," said Prof Excell. "But they decided on something more trendy which had no connection with the city.

"The museum was a rival project for funds and in the end both lost out. Frankly, with the rate of museums now closing I'm not particularly sorry."

Appleton was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1947 for his work in discovering the layer in the upper atmosphere which was given his name. It had important implications for radio broadcasting.

Born in 1892, he was educated at Barkerend Elementary (now First) School, the former Hanson School and Bradford Technical College before winning a scholarship to Cambridge University.

He went on to become Britain's youngest professor and the Government's chief scientist in the Second World War, when he was influential in guiding the development of radar.

Prof Excel, who has a wealth of documents and photos on Appleton's personal and working life, is now following a different tack to honour his hero by creating a virtual museum on the Internet, and a society.

"What we really want is a bright young person to compile a website. With 3-D interactive pictures it can look like a virtual museum and be open to the whole world. It would help put Bradford on the map.

"But we need a research assistant and it's very difficult to get funding directly for such a thing."

A society or foundation is also planned as a contact point for scientists and schools. Anybody who is interested in research or funding new projects on Appleton's life can write to Prof Excel at the Telecommunications Research Centre, University of Bradford, Bradford BD7 1DP or e-mail him on p.s.excell@bradford.ac.uk.

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