Evelyn Godfrey Lawford died as a result of a motor accident at Richmond, Yorkshire, on 19th September, 1958, at the age of 65.
Mr. Lawford was educated at Eton and Malvern and after working for three years in Russia in the office of the Kyshtim Mining Works Co., entered the Royal School of Mines in 1913. His studies were interrupted by the war, during which he served with the Royal Engineers (Special Coys.) in France, with the rank of lieutenant and acting captain. He was mentioned in despatches. Returning to the Royal School of Mines in 1919, he obtained the A.R.S.M., first class, in mining in 1921 and gained the Warrington Smyth Medal.
He spent the next six years in Mexico with Santa Gertrudis Co., Pachuca, first as chief sampler and in 1922, after doing special examination work for Mexican Corporation, Ltd., became nightshift foreman at El Bordo mine, and in 1925 division foreman at Dos Carlos mine.
Mr. Lawford worked for a few months in 1927 as assistant editor of the Engineering and Mining Journal, New York, before joining the staff of Rio Tinto Co., Ltd, in London as technical assistant. His work covered both the mining and metallurgical sides of the company’s activities and involved visiting and reporting on works on the Continent and in America. In December, 1952, he succeeded Mr. L.C. Hill as technical manager in London for the Rio Tinto Group, retiring in 1957 after 30 years’ service with the company.
He had played a leading part in the Group’s enterprises, including developments at Blind River, Canada; Mary Kathleen, Australia; and Wilmington, U.S.A. He had been a director of the Pyrites Co., Ltd., from 1937 to 1957, and of Rio Tinto Finance and Exploration, Ltd., from 1955. He was Rio Tinto’s representative on the Council of the United Kingdom Metal Mining Association.
Among his published articles were four contributed to the Transactions of the Institution, three of which were selected for awards: ‘Notes on some unusual stoping problems in Mexico’ (vol. 39, 1929-30), gaining ‘The Consolidated Gold Fields of South Africa, Limited Premium; ‘A portable dry blower as substitute for the prospecting pan in arid regions’ written jointly with G.W. Gray (vol. 54, 1944-45); ‘Notes on the treatment of pyrites cinders at the plant of the Pyrites Co., Inc., Wilmington, Delaware,’ jointly with R.C. Turnbull and W. Hardick (vol. 58, 1948-49), which gained a Capper Pass award; and ‘Recovery of sulphur from smelter gases by the Orkla process at Rio Tinto’, written jointly with H.R. Potts (vol. 58, 1948-49), receiving another Consolidated Gold Fields Premium.
Mr. Lawford was elected to Studentship of the Institution in 1917, to Associate Membership in 1923 and to Membership in 1938. He had served as a Member of Council for a total of 17 years having first been elected in 1940, and had represented the Institution on many bodies, including the Joint Committee on Metallurgical Education and the Joint Committee for National Certificates in Metallurgy. He had served as Chairman of the Institution’s Benevolent Fund Management Committee and was President of the Royal School of Mines Association for 1938-39.
He had only a short while before his death relinquished the office of Master of the Drapers’ Company after a successful year of office, and his many activities, on behalf of the Company included work as governor of Howell’s School, Denbigh, of Bancroft’s School and of Queen Mary College, University of London.
Mr. J.B. Dennison writes: With considerable technical ability he combined great charm of manner, which made him equally at home either with miners underground or entertaining Royalty at a large ceremonial function.
He was very fond of good music and the way in which he educated people in this in a rough mining camp in Mexico had to be seen to be believed. Throughout his life he was in much well-deserved demand as a speaker on any occasion.
His sage advice on many aspects of the activities of the Council of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy will be sadly missed.
Vol. 68, Trans IMM 1958-59, pp.55-56
