George Hewitt Beatty died in Johannesburg on 4th May, 1954, after a long illness. He was 70 years of age.
Born in Derbyshire, he went with his parents to South Africa in 1898, and his mining career began in 1903 when he was appointed assistant surveyor to New Goch Gold Mines, Ltd. In the following six years he was promoted to chief surveyor, shift boss and mine captain. From 1909 until 1911 he was underground manager at Cinderella Consolidated Gold Mines, Ltd., subsequently spending a year on field geological work for Free State Rand, Ltd.
Mr. Beatty’s association with the Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Company’s group of mines, which ended only with his death, began in February, 1912. His first post with the group was that of assistant manager of Consolidated Langlaagte Mines, Ltd. After a few months he was transferred to Witwatersrand Gold Mining Co., Ltd., as acting manager, and in December, 1914, he transferred to Van Ryn Deep, Ltd., in the same capacity.
He was appointed assistant consulting engineer to ‘J.C.I.’ in November, 1915, general manager of Government Gold Mining Areas, Ltd., in 1916, and general manager of Randfontein Estates Gold Mining Co., Ltd., from September, 1917, to July, 1923. He was then appointed consulting engineer to the Group and in 1933, while retaining that position, was also made joint general manager and a little later a director. He retired from his managerial and consulting appointments in 1946, but remained a member of the board of directors of I.C.I. and a number of other South African mining companies until his death.
Mr. Beatty served continuously on the Executive Committee of the Transvaal Chamber of Mines from 1923 until 1946 and held the office of President in 1936-37 and 1939-40 and Vice-President for seven sessions. He was elected a Member of the Institution in 1937 and was Member of Council for South Africa from 1938 to 1945.
Mr. K. Richardson writes: ‘It has been my privilege to know and be associated in business and friendship with George Beatty during the whole of my working life, but more intimately since I joined him in the head office of our Company in 1927. His character and charm of manner need no elaboration, either in South Africa or in London. Perhaps the most outstanding facet of his character was his ability to rise above the handicap of failing health in the later years of his life. He did not let this detract from his ever-present sense of humour, nor did it affect his keen judgment even to the end. His thoughts for others transcended everything and his memory remains as a stimulus to a large circle of friends and colleagues.’
Vol. 64, Trans I.M.M. 1954-55, p. 193
