Frank Higham, Technical Editor of the Institution’s Publications since 1943, died on 17 April, 1966. He was 67 years of age and had been in poor health for some time.
Before beginning his studies at the Royal School of Mines, London, in 1920, Mr Higham had, for the previous five years, been engaged as an analytical chemist and assistant metallurgist. He gained the degree of B.Sc. (Geology) in 1922 and in the following year was awarded the A.R.S.M. in Mining Geology. He subsequently gained the degree of M.Sc. (Geology) from London University. In 1923 he was appointed field geologist with Nile-Congo Divide Syndicate, Ltd., working in the Sudan and Uganda until 1926 when a serious accident compelled him to return to the United Kingdom. In 1927 he was engaged as demonstrator in geology at the Royal School of Mines — a post he held until 1929. From then until his death Mr. Higham worked on the Mining Magazine; he served as Assistant Editor from 1929 to 1938 and thereafter as Editor.
Mr. Higham was retained as Technical Editor by the Institution in 1943 and, besides the Transactions, was intimately concerned with the production of the various symposia proceedings published in recent years. He also carried out consultancy work.
Mr. Higham was elected to Student Membership of the Institution in 1922; was transferred to Associate Membership seven years later, and to full Membership in 1950.
Mr. P.H. Truscott writes: All those who had the pleasure and advantage of knowing and/or working with Frank Higham will realize how great is the loss suffered by the mineral industry by his untimely death. I had the good fortune to know him over a period of nearly 40 years, first when he was on the staff of the Royal School of Mines, and later when he was Editor of the Mining Magazine and Technical Editor to the Institution. Not only did Frank Higham speak with authority on a very wide range of technologies — based upon a thorough understanding of them all — but he did so with charm, with friendliness and kindliness, and with consideration for others. Though by nature a quiet unassuming man – he had firm opinions and strict standards, and would always be forthright when it was necessary. He will be sadly missed by the industry, and by his many friends; but he has left behind memories of a fine man — and the standards he has set will remain as signposts for us all.
Vol. 75, Trans IMM 1966, p.75
