Ian Dundas Orr died in early August, 1957, at the age of 56.
Mr. Orr was born in Scotland and educated at Eton and at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he specialized in chemistry. He took a great interest in mechanical engineering, and gained some practical mining experience from frequent visits to oil shale mines and works belonging to his father and grandfather; at Falkirk and Philipstoun.
Mr. Orr had been associated for the major part of his life with James Miller Son and Co., Ltd., London, managers, secretaries and agents for Arran Barytes Co., Ltd. He was their technical adviser from about 1928, and was closely connected with operations at Glen Sannox barytes mines, and the dressing plant and grinding mill in Glasgow, and from 1939 represented his firm’s interests in the Longfell and Scoredale barytes mines, Westmorland. He was also associated with the reopening and equipping of Muirshiel barytes mines, Renfrewshire, in 1942, and in 1946 was elected chairman on the formation of Muirshiel Barytes Co., Ltd. He was for some time vice-chairman and joint managing director of James Miller Son and Co., Ltd., and was at the time of his death chairman tip, the company and director of their London office.
He was elected vice-chairman of the British Barytes Producers Association in November, 1943, and was chairman for 1945-47. He was honorary auditor of the Association from 1949 until his death.
Mr. Orr was elected an Associate Member of the Institution in 1944.
Vol. 68, Trans IMM 1958-59, p.56
