Artist and scientist, born in Lincoln into Lincolnshire farming stock. He was educated at Magnus Grammar School, Newark, and University College, Nottingham, where he graduated in pharmacy in 1936. He then transferred to the school of chemistry, winning a first-class honours degree in 1937. Partridge held a number of commercial and academic appointments before in 1960 being appointed first Lord Trent Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry in the University of Nottingham, in 1967 head of the department of pharmacy, in 1972 deputy vice-chancellor. In 1940, he married Monica McMain who later became Professor of Slavonic Studies at Nottingham University, retiring in 1980. Bill Partridge painted seriously for over 20 years, producing works which aimed to synthesise landscape and abstraction.