A HUNT has been launched for relatives of two Nobel Prize winners who both attended a Todmorden primary school.

Sir John Cockcroft received the 1951 Nobel physics prize for his work in splitting the atom and he is regarded as one of the founding fathers of nuclear physics.

Geoffrey Wilkinson’s work on organometallic compounds saw him walk away with the chemistry prize, alongside Ernst Otto Fischer, 22 years later.

But both started their schooling at Ferney Lee Primary School in Todmorden, before progressing to the town’s former grammar school, where they were each taught by the same physics tutor, Luke Sutcliffe.

The distinguished scientists’ names are central features of the school’s roll of honour board, which is being lent to Todmorden Library as part of a 12-month display.

An unveiling ceremony is planned for the boards later this month but council officials in Calderdale first want to see if they can trace any relatives of the pair.

Coun Olwen Jennings said: “For one school to produce two Nobel Prize winners is extraordinary and we feel that it is a story which needs to be told.

“It would be marvellous if when the boards are unveiled, members of these two men’s families could be in attendance.”

Any relatives can e-mail joanne.campbell@calderdale.gov.uk before March 21.