Obituary notice
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ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL 145 species throughout the Coal Measures still remains a model to those seek- ing to use plant fossils as a basis for stratigraphical correlation. In comparing the sequence of South Wales with that of France, Dr. Dix believed that the unit of the Stephanian, which on the continent succeeds the Westphalian 0, was represented in Britain. Her viewwas not universally accepted, but the controversy continues to the present day, and even the added evidence from palynology has not settled it. Dr. Dix did not, however, confine her work to palaeobotany, but she also studied non-marine lamellibranchs and their stratigraphical value in relation to that of plants. The subjects of her papers ranged from the sporocarp of Neuropteris to the succession of the Millstone Grit in Gower, and from fossil arthropods to the petrology of rounded boulders associated with coal seams. Between 1924 and 1945 she published more than thirty- five papers and notes. About half were under her name alone; most of the rest were written in collaboration with Professor Trueman, and some jointly with Dr. John Pringle and others. In 1930 she was appointed Lecturer in Geology at Bedford College, University of London, coming to Cambridge with the College during the war-time evacuation from 1939 to 1944. She was elected a Fellow of the Geological Society in 1929 and was awarded the Murchison Fund in 1936. In 1930 she joined the Geologists' Association, and was a member of Council from 1932 to 1946.From 1933 to 1937 she served as Secretary for Field Meetings, and from 1942 to 1946 she was a Vice-President. She exhibited on a number of occasions at the Annual Reunion, and a lecture which she gave, in connection with a demonstration, on structures in the Coal Measures of South Wales, was published in the PROCEEDINGS for 1941. Together with Mr. C. W. Wright, she led a Field Meeting at Guild- ford and the Guildford Bypass in June 1945. Dr. Dix was a sociable, lively and extremely active person. There is a good likeness of her in The Geologists' Association 1858-1958, edited by G. S. Sweeting (1958), where in Plate IV she is the fourth figure from the left in the row nearest the camera. Unhappily, in the late summer of 1945, she developed severe mental illness from which she never recovered. M.A.A. RICHARD PAYNE, M.I.MIN.E., F.G.S., died in 14 February 1973, his eighty- fourth birthday. Born at Wimblebury, Hednesford, he was educated at Church Hill School, Hednesford, and began work at Cannock Chase No.9 Colliery in 1902.After attending evening classes at Hednesford Technical Institute, he gained a three-year scholarship to Birmingham University.
Transcript of Obituary notice
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL 145
species throughout the Coal Measures still remains a model to those seeking to use plant fossils as a basis for stratigraphical correlation.
In comparing the sequence of South Wales with that of France, Dr. Dixbelieved that the unit of the Stephanian, which on the continent succeedsthe Westphalian 0, was represented in Britain. Her viewwas not universallyaccepted, but the controversy continues to the present day, and even theadded evidence from palynology has not settled it.
Dr. Dix did not, however, confine her work to palaeobotany, but shealso studied non-marine lamellibranchs and their stratigraphical value inrelation to that of plants. The subjects of her papers ranged from thesporocarp of Neuropteris to the succession of the Millstone Grit in Gower,and from fossil arthropods to the petrology of rounded boulders associatedwith coal seams. Between 1924 and 1945 she published more than thirtyfive papers and notes. About half were under her name alone; most of therest were written in collaboration with Professor Trueman, and somejointly with Dr. John Pringle and others.
In 1930 she was appointed Lecturer in Geology at Bedford College,University of London, coming to Cambridge with the College during thewar-time evacuation from 1939 to 1944. She was elected a Fellow of theGeological Society in 1929and was awarded the Murchison Fund in 1936.In 1930 she joined the Geologists' Association, and was a member ofCouncil from 1932 to 1946.From 1933 to 1937she served as Secretary forField Meetings, and from 1942 to 1946 she was a Vice-President. Sheexhibited on a number of occasions at the Annual Reunion, and a lecturewhich she gave, in connection with a demonstration, on structures in theCoal Measures of South Wales, was published in the PROCEEDINGS for1941. Together with Mr. C. W. Wright, she led a Field Meeting at Guildford and the Guildford Bypass in June 1945.
Dr. Dix was a sociable, lively and extremely active person. There is agood likeness of her in The Geologists' Association 1858-1958, edited byG. S. Sweeting (1958), where in Plate IV she is the fourth figure from theleft in the row nearest the camera.
Unhappily, in the late summer of 1945, she developed severe mentalillness from which she never recovered. M.A.A.
RICHARD PAYNE, M.I.MIN.E., F.G.S., died in 14 February 1973, his eightyfourth birthday.
Born at Wimblebury, Hednesford, he was educated at Church HillSchool, Hednesford, and began work at Cannock Chase No.9 Colliery in1902.After attending evening classesat Hednesford Technical Institute, hegained a three-year scholarship to Birmingham University.
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While at University he gained a Mining Diploma and first-class CollieryManagers' Certificate. He then became an Assistant Manager with theCannock Chase Colliery Co. At the same time he taught at many of theevening Institutes in the area.
In 1920 he became Organiser in Mining Instruction for Derbyshire,based at Chesterfield. He was elected a Fellow of the Geological Society in1920 and a Member of the Geologists' Association in 1921.
1926 saw his return to his native Cannock Chase, when he becamePrincipal of the newly constructed Cannock Chase Mining and TechnicalCollege, retiring in 1954.
Mr. Payne was a member of many local associations and was widelyknown and respected in the area. He will be remembered with affection bythe many thousands of students who passed through his hands.
A.I. MORRIS
