Co-Founder of the Geological Society of Hong Kong and author of many works on the regional geology of the Far East
David Workman passed away at home on 4 September 2017 after battling bravely pulmonary fibrosis for over five years. David was born in Chalford, Gloucestershire. His maternal grandparents lived in the valley below, where David spent most of his holidays. When he was four his family moved to Trowbridge and he won a scholarship to Dauntsey’s School where he first developed an interest in geology.
Leeds
David excelled in geology and completed his BSc and PhD at Leeds University, the latter under the supervision of Professor W Q Kennedy. After graduation in 1962, he was appointed Oppenheimer Research Fellow for research work in Zimbabwe.
From 1963-68, he joined the British Ministry of Overseas Development as Senior Scientific Officer and carried out mineral exploration in Lesotho, Thailand and Laos. This was followed by a two-year secondment to the Committee for Co-ordination of Investigations of the Lower Mekong Basin, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangkok.
In 1970, David was promoted to Principal Scientific Officer. He spent two more years on mineral exploration projects in Turkey and Korea, before rejoining the Committee for the Co-ordination of Investigations of the Lower Mekong Basin, UNDP as a Programme Officer from 1972-76.
United Nations
After a brief period with Engineering Consultants Incorporated in Denver, Colorado, David was Economics Affairs Officer from 1977-1979 responsible for regional mineral resources development with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
In late 1979, David joined the University of Hong Kong initially as Lecturer (1979-1981) and then Senior Lecturer in Geology (1981-96). He switched from the Department of Geography and Geology to the Earth Science Unit in 1993 (Department of Earth Sciences since 1995), to begin teaching the new BSc in Earth Sciences with Wyss Yim - the two founding members. Until 1993, he taught geoscience courses to BA and BSc students, and from 1979-76 a geology and soil mechanics course with the late Professor Peter Lumb to BSc (Eng) students. He was a well-respected teacher and an inspiring mentor. Several MPhil students supervised by him worked on topics ranging from regional tectonics to the origin and characteristics of Burmese jade.
Hong Kong
David was a co-founder and active supporter of the Geological Society of Hong Kong. He held the post of Secretary from 1982-1987, elected Chairman from 1987-1988, and served as a long-term member of the editorial board.
David’s knowledge of regional geology led to him authoring four key contributions on the geology of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam in the Encyclopedia of European and Asian Regional Geology in 1995. He also co-authored a 100-page summary of the geology of Hong Kong published in the Bulletin of the Association of Engineering Geologists in 1989.
David retired to Bath and remained active for many years. Activities included field excursions for the Bath Geological Society around the William Smith countryside and as a Mayor’s city guide until ill health forced him to retire.
David is survived by his wife Anne, two daughters, Sarah and Cathy and four grandchildren.
By Wyss Yim
- A longer version of this obituary follows:
David Richard Workman passed away on September 4, 2017 after battling bravely an illness for over five years without complaint, and was able to die at home, as he wished.
David was born in the village of Chalford in Gloucestershire. His maternal grandparents lived in the valley below, where David spent most of his holidays. When he was 4 his family moved to Trowbridge, where his father had a job in a cloth mill. David won a Wiltshire County scholarship to Dauntsey’s School and there he first developed an interest in geology. He became the first member of his family to go to university.
David excelled in the earth sciences and completed both his BSc and PhD at Leeds University. The latter was under the supervision of Professor W.Q. Kennedy. After graduation in 1962, he was appointed Oppenheimer Research Fellow for research work in Zimbabwe.
From 1963 to 1968, he joined the Overseas Geological Survey of the British Ministry of Overseas Development as a Senior Scientific Officer. During this period, he carried out geological mapping and mineral exploration in Lesotho, Thailand and Laos. This was followed by a two-year secondment as an adviser to the Committee for Co-ordination of Investigations of the Lower Mekong Basin, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Bangkok.
In 1970, David was promoted to Principal Scientific Officer in the Overseas Division of the Institute of Geological Sciences. He spent two more years on mineral exploration projects in Turkey and Korea, before rejoining the Committee for the Co-ordination of Investigations of the Lower Mekong Basin, UNDP as a Programme Officer from 1972 to 1976 again in Bangkok.
This was followed by a brief period as a geologist for Engineering Consultants Incorporated in Denver, Colorado for further mineral surveys in Korea, and planning investigations for dams and irrigation projects in Thailand.
From 1977 to 1979, David was Economics Affairs Officer responsible for regional mineral resources development with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific also based in Bangkok.
In late 1979, David made a major career change and joined the University of Hong Kong. He was Lecturer (1979-1981) and then Senior Lecturer in Geology (1981-1996) until his retirement in June 1996. He first joined the Department of Geography and Geology (later the Department of Geography), but switched to the new Earth Science Unit in 1993, to begin undergraduate teaching for the new BSc in Earth Sciences who along with Professor Wyss Yim were the two founding members. The Department of Earth Sciences (DES) was formally established in 1995. Up until 1993, he taught geology courses to BA geography major and BSc students as well as a course on geology and soil mechanics jointly with the late Professor Peter Lumb to final year BSc (Eng) civil major students from 1979 until his retirement in June 1996. Since 1993, he was responsible for regional geology courses of Southeast Asia. He was also supervisor to several MPhil students on topics ranging from regional tectonics and structural geology to the origin and characteristics of Burmese jade.
DES alumni from those early years will recall David’s warm and friendly teaching style, his wide-ranging knowledge of the geology of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, with lectures fully illustrated by many of his fine field photographs. He was widely respected for the quality of his teaching and academic writing, and also as a dedicated and inspiring mentor. In his opinion, the highlight of his career was the graduation of the first batch of BSc in Earth Sciences students just before his retirement.
David was one of the founders and an active supporter of the Geological Society of Hong Kong throughout his time in Hong Kong, helping to organize and lead field trips and seminars. He held the post of Secretary from 1982 to 1987, the elected Chairman from 1987 to 1988, and served many years as a member of the editorial board.
David’s knowledge of regional geology led to him authoring or co-authoring four key contributions on the geology of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam in the Encyclopedia of European and Asian Regional Geology edited by E.M. Moores and R.W. Fairbridge in 1995. He also co-authored a 100-page summary of the geology of Hong Kong published in the Bulletin of the Association of Engineering Geologists in 1989. These were among some 40 other publications up to the mid-1990s, mainly on the geology, mineral resources and tectonics of Southeast Asia.
David retired to Bath in Western England with his family and remained active for many years. Activities with the Bath Geological Society included field excursions around the William Smith countryside and further afield. He also developed an interest in classical architecture and was a Mayor’s Guide for the city of Bath until ill health forced him to retire.
David was elected Chairman of the Bath Geological Society in 2002 and served until 2004. His gentle, good-humoured approach and wide-ranging knowledge were much appreciated by all. He also co-wrote the Society's millennium publication 'Bath in Stone'.
Wyss Yim has recollections of a visit to Bath to see David. A field excursion of the Bath Geological Society to retrace the footsteps of William Smith was cancelled at short notice because a downpour overnight made walking conditions slippery and possibly dangerous. He accompanied David to the meeting point at the scheduled time to inform participants showing up who may be unaware of the cancellation. I was fortunate enough to have a well-informed guided tour by David that day on the local geology including a visit to William Smith’s cottage.
David is survived by his long-time wife Anne, two daughters, Sarah and Cathy and 4 grandchildren.
The funeral was held on Monday, 25th September at Haycombe Crematorium followed by a reception at The Boathouse.
Wyss Yim and Dick Martin