Nigel Bertie Locke died suddenly on 18th April, 1955, in Johannesburg, at the age of 49.
Mr. Locke was born in South Africa. He received his technical education at Witwatersrand Technical College, specializing in metallurgy, and completed his training as surface learner in 1926-27 at Modderfontein East, Ltd., and learner assayer at Potgietersrust Platinums, Ltd., and Onverwacht Platinums, Ltd., gaining the Government Assayers Ticket of Competency.
He remained throughout his career with the Central Mining—Rand Mines Group. In February, 1927, he was appointed assayer at Crown Mines, Ltd., and was later employed at Onverwacht Platinums, Ltd., and Durban Roodepoort Deep, Ltd., before joining the staff of New Modderfontein Gold Mining Co., Ltd., in 1929. From 1930 to 1933 Mr. Locke was assistant assayer to Modderfontein East and was subsequently made technical assistant and extractor house shiftsman. He transferred in 1935 to the post of reduction works shift boss at Durban Roodepoort Deep, Ltd., and after four years left to become reduction works foreman at Transvaal Gold Mining Estates, Ltd.
During 1940 Mr. Locke was technical assistant to Central Mining and Investment Corporation and reduction works foreman at Modderfontein B Gold Mining Co., Ltd., taking up the post in June, 1942, of reduction officer to Transvaal Gold Mining Estates. Two years later he was appointed acting assistant consulting metallurgist to Central Mining and thereafter held senior positions with companies of the Group. In October, 1952, he was appointed assistant consulting metallurgist on the Group’s head office staff in Johannesburg.
Mr. Locke was elected to Associate Membership of the Institution in 1945. He had been a Member of Council of the Chemical, Metallurgical and Mining Society of South Africa, and at the time of his death was honorary editor of the Society’s Journal.
Vol. 65, Trans IMM 1955-56, p.467
