About us

Consulting petroleum engineer and keen sportsman who grew up in China and spoke fluent Mandarin.

Born in Bishop's Waltham, Hampshire, England, Glascott Eyre Dawson-Grove ('D-G') lived in China until the age of 10, with his parents Hermann and Ethel (Betty Symes) Dawson-Grove, his father a Government Official for the Chinese Customs. D-G learnt to speak fluent Chinese from his amah (nanny). Taught by his parents and missionaries in China, he attended Rugby School in England, and then King Edward VII School in Hong Kong. At 16, he won the prize for highest marks in his final year and a scholarship to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA. Since the minimum age of 17 prevented him from attending MIT that year, D-G enrolled in Geology at Hong Kong University.

The Japanese invasion in December 1941 delayed his formal studies - he was a POW in Hong Kong with his parents for the next four years. Following the War, he attended Imperial College Royal School of Mines, London, for his BSc in Oil Technology and continued his studies at Cambridge for his MSc in Structural Geology. An avid ballroom dancer and judo enthusiast, he rowed for Emmanuel College, Cambridge, in the eights and double sculls. He also met lifelong friends and business associates at university, with whom he kept in touch for more than 60 years. D-G contracted polio at age 27, and then met and became engaged to his physiotherapist, his future wife, Elizabeth.

Qualified as a Petroleum Engineer, D-G began his career in the oil business with Shell Oil in California (1953-61), immigrated to Canada where he was employed with Home Oil in Calgary (1961-77), and then established his own consulting business, Petrophysical Consultants International Ltd. As a founding member of the Calgary Rowing Club in 1967, D-G became known as an outspoken advocate and resource for the sport. He loved rowing and kayaking, as well as mentoring and coaching new members of the club and competing in numerous regattas. He was last on the water at age 77 in 2002, and continued rowing on the indoor training tank until after his 87th birthday.

D-G was known for his innovation and integrity in work and play, and his incredible determination to never give up. Beside his loving wife of 57 years, D-G is survived by his two daughters and a son-in-law, Louisa and Bill Chapman of Williams Lake, BC, and Lucy Forster of Calgary; five grandchildren, Laticia, Oleh and Roman Chapman of Williams Lake, and John and Claire Forster and their father, Paul Forster, all of Hong Kong.

• Glascott Eyre Dawson-Grove, P.Eng, PGeol, MSc, ARSM, FGS (‘D-G’), beloved husband of Elizabeth (Liz), Born 9 September 1924 - died Thursday 16 February 2012 in Calgary aged 87.

Elizabeth Dawson-Grove, Louisa Chapman and Lucy Forster