Geoffrey Brian Oliver Penn died in Cape Town, South Africa, on 24th April, 1963. He was 59 years of age.
Mr. Penn was born and educated in England, receiving his technical training at the Royal School of Mines from 1922 to 1925, where he gained the first class Diploma in mining and the first class honours degree of B.Sc. in Engineering (Min.), the latter as an external student.
His first appointment was that of junior mining engineer with Rio Tinto Ltd., Spain, and then in 1928 he joined Pyrites Co., Ltd., Cyprus, as engineer-in-charge of the Kalavasso project. This was followed, two years later, by a similar appointment with Cyprus Mines Corporation.
In 1933 he joined Rhokana Corporation, Ltd., as shift boss at N’kana mine, being promoted mine captain in 1936. In the following year he was appointed senior mine captain, Mindola mine, and was later promoted acting underground manager. He remained there until taking up the position of shift boss with the O’okiep Copper Co. in 1939. He was promoted mine captain in 1941 and mine superintendent, East O’okiep mine, in 1944.
In 1950 he rejoined the Rio Tinto group and was appointed the company’s first representative in Africa, under the title of consulting mining engineer. He lived first in Johannesburg, but following his appointment as technical director moved to Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia. Shortly afterwards Mr. Penn suffered a heart attack and was forced to retire in 1960.
Mr. Penn was elected a Student of the Institution in 1924, was transferred, Associate Membership in 1929 and to Membership in 1948. He was also a Member of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers.
Vol. 74, Trans I.M.M., 1964-65, p.104
