Peter Best died on 11 June, 1968. He was 63 years of age.
Mr. Best graduated B.Sc. from the Royal School of Mines, London, in 1926, also gaining an associateship of the School. In 1925 he had been awarded the Brough Medal.
After working for three years as surveyor, Balaghat Gold Mines, Ltd., lndia, Mr. Best was appointed, in 1929, assistant agent, Ooregum Gold Mining Co., Ltd., retaining that position until 1937. He then became chief assistant agent. Champion Reef Gold Mines, Ltd., and, in April, 1943, chief mine agent with the same company. In 1948 he became chief mine agent and subsequently superintendent, of the joint operation in India by Champion Reef Gold Mines, Ltd., and Ooregum Gold Mining Co., Ltd.
On returning to the United Kingdom, Mr. Best was employed by Rio Tinto Co., Ltd., relinquishing the post of deputy head of the Technical Division of Rio Tinto-Zinc Corporation, Ltd., in 1963. Thereafter he was engaged in private consultancy work; from July, 1964, to 1968 he had been consultant to the Consolidated Gold Fields. Ltd., tin exploration programme in Cornwall.
Mr. Best was elected to Studentship of the Institution in 1925: and was transferred to Associate Membership in 1930, and to Membership in 1949. He served as a Member of Council from 1955, being a Vice-President for the years 1962-65. The author of a number of technical papers, Mr. Best made many contributions to the discussion of papers published in the Institution’s Transactions.
R.F. Lethbridge writes: It was with a deep sense of loss that Peter Best’s many friends in the world of mining learnt of his untimely death. The Institution, particularly, will miss him deeply. As Vice-President, in Council, in Committee and, especially, as Chairman of the Applications Committee and of the House Committee, he gave his services ungrudgingly for the good of the whole Institution.
Those who served with him on these committees and on the Benevolent Fund Committee realize how much thought and work and sympathy went into all he did, and his quiet wisdom and experience were always readily available when needed. He will, indeed, be sorely missed.
Vol. 77, Trans I.M.M. 1968, p. 57
