Obituary notice
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Obituary Notices FRANCIS HARRY MOORE died in Epsom on 16 November, 1990 aged 91. A thoroughly characteristic Norfolk man (the gravels of that area were recognizable in the voice), Francis was born on 8 August, 1899 into a family who ran a bakery in Pitt Street, near the centre of old Norwich (today wholly redeveloped), and was one of three children. He was among the first intake when the City of Norwich School was founded some three years before the Great War, in which he saw a year's service in 1918 (including capture and then repatriation from the Port of Danzig). Following a thorough grounding in chemistry at school he proceeded to Huddersfield Technical College, the centre of the dyestuffs industry. He took an External London B.Sc. in Chemistry (Organic) and then a Ph.D. in the development of diazo dyes. Francis Moore came naturally, then, to his profession as a chemist, having carried out for his thesis, research that involved synthesizing a dye, Rhodamine pink. His first post-doctorate appointment was at the Fuel Research Station at Greenwich and he remained in this research with the Ministry of Fuel and Power until his retirement in August 1959. From that time for some twenty years, however, he found much more rewarding, though conveniently part-time, employ in the world of commercial patents, more or less in the same field but with the private firm Abel and Imray. We can note that Francis' full involvement with geology came at a comparatively late stage. It was influenced, I think, firstly by the growth in public understanding, planning and distribution of fuel resources (especially coal) from the geologist's standpoint (and before off-shore oil and gas bonanzas much effort was put into locating natural underground-storage sites for gas); secondly, from about 1950 the chemistry and petrology of rocks interested him; but thirdly, his friend in Fir Tree Road, the late Prof. David Williams, guided him so sympathetically into another world of keen and practical geological people. Though a fellow of the Geological Society since 1945, there was a milestone when he became G.A. member and began to build up his beloved complete set of the Proceedings. It was but four years from joining the Association in 1951 that Dr. Moore became its General Secretary, the run from 1955 to 1976 establishing a record. He was thereupon persuaded to take the office of President (1976-78) and then in 1982 he was appointed the first Life Vice-President of the G.A. Personal reminiscences of these Moore years can be found in Dr. Eric Robinson's appreciative remarks in Circular No. 884, p. 6. As his son says, it was his father's consuming interest in geology that lured him to so many parts of the country that no ordinary traveller would think of visiting, and soon this was to lead to his travels all over the world (except, as it happened, South America). Among these ventures abroad Africa, America, Austria, Bulgaria, Iceland, India, the Mediterranean and New Zealand must be mentioned, for in all these places Francis was able to bring to bear his critical interests in tectonics and volcanic geology; balanced by the kindly companion- ship of his second wife Julia and more often than not by a hererogeneous assembly of G. A. characters. But it is in the British Isles that I recall his long maintained enthusiasm for rocks and structures of such areas as the Scottish Highlands and Islands, often accompanied by H. M. Montford ('Monty') with whom he enjoyed scientific argument. To Dr. Moore, geology was essentially a hard-rock subject (he loved to collect good mineral specimens), but that does not imply any lack of appreciation of the rest, or of geophysics, or of nice fossils. Indeed, it is this breadth of geological understanding that made F. H. M. a prime example of H. H. Read's dictum that the best geologist is he who has seen the most rocks. The Geologists' Association's good fortune in having Dr. Moore as a sort of secretarial manager for so long reflects his non-geological qualities too: firm but balanced chairmanship of meetings and com- mittees; methodical but not over-elaborate reporting and minuting; a flair for selecting suitable lecturers, leaders and officers; a kindly helper to the inexperienced; an authoritative controller of ec- centrics. He was unconcerned with professional and amateur distinctions, only with the geological science; but how splendidly he represented the amateur among the delegates in Bulgaria. I also like to think particularly of the days when preparatory meetings with the editor and Dr. Moore before Council Meetings so effectively guided us. Outstanding also were the services he rendered in the Centenary year 1958. He provided the statistical summaries for The Geologists' Association, 1858-1958 published in that year. In his last few years this tower of strength really did have to retire from geology other than reading and talking about it, for he had difficulties in getting around. It was always a pleasure to ring up Francis and Julia, or arrange a short visit, to talk about the latest news of geology in a changing world. Now though, some time for literature and the arts, where a very dry (and saucy) sense of humour was just as valuable as ever; Francis was delighted to be reminded of Norfolk bakery days by a present of good home-made parkin, and a measure of his favourite Glenmorangie would refresh him and his memories of the Highlands. My wife and I first knew No. 278 Fir Tree Road as 77
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Obituary Notices
FRANCIS HARRY MOORE died in Epsom on 16November, 1990 aged 91. A thoroughly characteristicNorfolk man (the gravels of that area wererecognizable in the voice), Francis was born on 8August, 1899 into a family who ran a bakery in PittStreet, near the centre of old Norwich (today whollyredeveloped), and was one of three children. He wasamong the first intake when the City of NorwichSchool was founded some three years before theGreat War, in which he saw a year's service in 1918(including capture and then repatriation from the Portof Danzig). Following a thorough grounding inchemistry at school he proceeded to HuddersfieldTechnical College, the centre of the dyestuffsindustry. He took an External London B.Sc. inChemistry (Organic) and then a Ph.D. in thedevelopment of diazo dyes.
Francis Moore came naturally, then, to hisprofession as a chemist, having carried out for histhesis, research that involved synthesizing a dye,Rhodamine pink. His first post-doctorate appointmentwas at the Fuel Research Station at Greenwich and heremained in this research with the Ministry of Fueland Power until his retirement in August 1959. Fromthat time for some twenty years, however, he foundmuch more rewarding, though conveniently part-time,employ in the world of commercial patents, more orless in the same field but with the private firm Abeland Imray.
We can note that Francis' full involvement withgeology came at a comparatively late stage. It wasinfluenced, I think, firstly by the growth in publicunderstanding, planning and distribution of fuelresources (especially coal) from the geologist'sstandpoint (and before off-shore oil and gas bonanzasmuch effort was put into locating naturalunderground-storage sites for gas); secondly, fromabout 1950 the chemistry and petrology of rocksinterested him; but thirdly, his friend in Fir TreeRoad, the late Prof. David Williams, guided him sosympathetically into another world of keen andpractical geological people. Though a fellow of theGeological Society since 1945, there was a milestonewhen he became G.A. member and began to build uphis beloved complete set of the Proceedings.
It was but four years from joining the Association in1951 that Dr. Moore became its General Secretary,the run from 1955 to 1976 establishing a record. Hewas thereupon persuaded to take the office ofPresident (1976-78) and then in 1982 he wasappointed the first Life Vice-President of the G.A.Personal reminiscences of these Moore years can befound in Dr. Eric Robinson's appreciative remarks inCircular No. 884, p. 6. As his son says, it was hisfather's consuming interest in geology that lured himto so many parts of the country that no ordinary
traveller would think of visiting, and soon this was tolead to his travels all over the world (except, as ithappened, South America). Among these venturesabroad Africa, America, Austria, Bulgaria, Iceland,India, the Mediterranean and New Zealand must bementioned, for in all these places Francis was able tobring to bear his critical interests in tectonics andvolcanic geology; balanced by the kindly companionship of his second wife Julia and more often than notby a hererogeneous assembly of G. A. characters. Butit is in the British Isles that I recall his longmaintained enthusiasm for rocks and structures ofsuch areas as the Scottish Highlands and Islands, oftenaccompanied by H. M. Montford ('Monty') withwhom he enjoyed scientific argument.
To Dr. Moore, geology was essentially a hard-rocksubject (he loved to collect good mineral specimens),but that does not imply any lack of appreciation of therest, or of geophysics, or of nice fossils. Indeed, it isthis breadth of geological understanding that madeF. H. M. a prime example of H. H. Read's dictumthat the best geologist is he who has seen the mostrocks.
The Geologists' Association's good fortune inhaving Dr. Moore as a sort of secretarial manager forso long reflects his non-geological qualities too: firmbut balanced chairmanship of meetings and committees; methodical but not over-elaborate reportingand minuting; a flair for selecting suitable lecturers,leaders and officers; a kindly helper to theinexperienced; an authoritative controller of eccentrics. He was unconcerned with professional andamateur distinctions, only with the geological science;but how splendidly he represented the amateur amongthe delegates in Bulgaria. I also like to thinkparticularly of the days when preparatory meetingswith the editor and Dr. Moore before CouncilMeetings so effectively guided us. Outstanding alsowere the services he rendered in the Centenary year1958. He provided the statistical summaries for TheGeologists' Association, 1858-1958 published in thatyear.
In his last few years this tower of strength really didhave to retire from geology other than reading andtalking about it, for he had difficulties in gettingaround. It was always a pleasure to ring up Francisand Julia, or arrange a short visit, to talk about thelatest news of geology in a changing world. Nowthough, some time for literature and the arts, where avery dry (and saucy) sense of humour was just asvaluable as ever; Francis was delighted to bereminded of Norfolk bakery days by a present of goodhome-made parkin, and a measure of his favouriteGlenmorangie would refresh him and his memories ofthe Highlands.
My wife and I first knew No. 278 Fir Tree Road as
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78 OBITUARY NOTIC ES
the house with the huge Portlandian ammonite besidethe gate, and we guessed a geologist must residethere. Much later we came to know that a geologistcertainly did; his personal memorial now is the fond
GEORGE RAINE. Many members of the associationwill remember George Raine as a quiet, unassumingman who contributed a great deal to Geology . Hiscontribution will not be recorded in a long list ofpersonal publications or through expeditionary zeal. Itwill however, read as a list of appointments andpersonal achievements marked most appropriately byhis service as Proceedings Editor and Guides Editorand for the award of the Foulerton Medal.
George was born in August , 1913 in the North Eastof England. He always defended his roots and spokeof Gateshead and its environs with pride. In 1935 heobtained his degree in Geology and Chemistry fromArmstrong College , Durham University (later tobecome Newcastle University) and subsequentlyworked for the D' Arcy Exploration Company, ShellRefining, Colas and B.P. Research at Sunbury. Heworked at Eakring and remained interested in thePetroleum Industry throughout his life.
From 1949, George became part of a dedicatedpartnership that was to last almost 30 years. Togetherwith Doug Whitten he taught and enthused manystudents, first as a part-timer and subsequently as afull-time lecturer. Between them Doug and Georgefounded and developed the Department of Geology atKingston College of Technology. Strength of character, a little guile and a love of Geology enabled themto acquire laboratory and teaching space , equipmentand above all a reputation, world wide , based onKingston graduates. George was responsible for theteaching of stratigraphy and managed the departmentalfinances. Between 1952 and 1968 he rose steadilythrough the academic ranks and was appointedPrincipal Lecturer in 1968. Hundreds of students willremember his unique lecturing style of those earlydays, a Players Weight hanging precariously over his
admiration of us all and especially of his widow Juliaand her step-son John .
STANLEY HOLM ES
lower lip, notes inscribed in detail on Stationery Officepaper or sometimes on the inside of a Weight'spacket.
He recorded data from diverse sources and woulddelight in telling students of a specific outcrop 3 kmoutside Potsdam, or the faunal composition of thelimestones of the Great Pyramid . The hanging 'fag'disappeared in the late sixties but my first impressionof him in 1964, crouched low over a snooker table inThe Bull at Sedburgh, surrounded by Kingstonstudents, will remain as a personal memory of theman and as a testimony to the enjoyment he had fromteaching and student contact.
George served as Proceedings Editor of the G.A.from 1957-1968 and as Guides Editor from 1980 to1985. His production of the Journal and the revisionand implementation of new guides ranks himalongside other major servants of the Association . In1978 he was awarded the Foulerton Medal. As alwayshe accepted this honour with quiet dignity but wasinwardly proud of his achievements .
Since retirement in 1979, George maintained hislinks with Kingston. Friends throughout the Polytechnic welcomed his frequent visits. Sadly his healthbegan to deteriorate in December 1989 and he died ofa heart attack on 7th July 1990. His association withKingston will survive through the award of the GeorgeRaine 'Project Pot' which George funded personallyuntil his death. His son John was a student atKingston and currently works as a Senior Geologistwith British Coal.
If I could write a letter to him now the prefix 'DearGeorge' would have special meaning. The G .A .,Kingston and Geology have lost a good friend.
DICK MOODY
