Mike Packman was a well-respected hydrogeologist specialising in the chalk of southeast England. Having spent 48 years with Southern Water, he had a rigorous, technical evidence-based approach. Mike shared his broad knowledge freely throughout his career and was very supportive of his staff. Having only recently retired, he passed away suddenly from a heart attack on the 13 February 2024, a shock to his family and many friends.
Left: Mike Packman. Image courtesy of Rob Sage.
Early years
Born in Reading in 1953, Mike regularly moved around the country with his parents. Mike went on to study a BSc in geography and geology at the University of Bristol from 1971 to 1974 and graduated with an Upper Second. He was elected as a Fellow of the Geological Society in 1976.
Southern Water
Mike joined Southern Water Authority as an assistant hydrogeologist in 1975, developing boreholes to augment flows in the River Itchen; licensing groundwater abstractions; assessing landfill applications; establishing groundwater monitoring networks; and investigating pollution issues. He contributed to the Section 24 Survey for the 1973 Water Act and the British Geological Survey’s hydrogeological map of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. In 1980, he was promoted to senior hydrogeologist and became a corporate member of the Institution of Geologists, gaining Chartered status in 1990. In 1983, he moved to the Isle of Wight as a water resources manager. He oversaw the installation of a freshwater pipeline under the Solent to augment the island’s water resources and investigated the Lower Greensand of the Eastern Yar catchment.
In March 1989, Mike was moved to Southern Science, a wholly owned subsidiary of the newly privatised Southern Water. There, he continued to work on projects for Southern Water, including deployable output assessments, pollution investigations, and the impact of HS1 on groundwater. He also worked for the Environment Agency, developing their source protection zone methodology.
In 1996, Mike rejoined Southern Water as chief hydrogeologist, a position he held until retirement in 2023. He contributed to the development of company water resource management plans and oversaw the development of regional groundwater models, liaising with the Environment Agency and other interested parties.
At a personal level, Mike was a cheerful, loyal, caring, gregarious gentle giant and a dedicated family man who loved animals, walking, travelling, steam trains, and beer. Sadly, in 2015, his wife suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. This was a tremendous shock to Mike and his retirement plans were put on hold while he dealt with it. Mike leaves behind three children, three grandchildren, and many friends and colleagues who will miss him.
By Robert Sage with thanks to Mike’s children and close friend, Steve Bennett
The full version of this obituary appears below - Editor.
Michael John Packman (1953 – 2024)
Dedicated professional hydrogeologist with an accomplished career at Southern Water
Mike Packman was a well-respected hydrogeologist specialising in the chalk of southeast England who spent 48 years with Southern Water in its various reincarnations. Having only recently retired, he passed away suddenly aged 70 from a heart attack on the 13 February 2024. He was a dedicated professional who was very supportive of his colleagues, as well as being a parent and grandparent.
Early years
Born in Reading on 8 March 1953, Mike’s early years were dominated by moving around the country with his parents. There were some periods of relative stability, for instance, when the family lived in Dibden Purlieu, near Southampton and the New Forest. There, Mike developed an early interest in trains, particularly steam trains. Later in life, his home on the Isle of Wight was only a stone’s throw from a heritage steam railway. Despite the frequent changes of school, Mike was a good pupil. His favourite subject was always geography but he was also good at art, for which he won prizes. It was during 6th Form at the Royal Grammar School in Tyneside that his sister introduced him to Paula, who became his wife in 1975. Mike went on to study a BSc in geography and geology at the University of Bristol from 1971 to 1974 and graduated with an Upper Second. He was elected as a Fellow of the Geological Society in 1976.
Southern Water
Mike joined Southern Water Authority as an assistant hydrogeologist in 1975 and was promoted to hydrogeologist in 1977. He was initially involved with assessments of source outputs, including test borehole pumping in the Candover scheme, which were then used to augment flows in the River Itchen. He had input to the Section 24 Survey for the 1973 Water Act for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Mike’s other work included setting up groundwater monitoring networks, groundwater contour mapping, recession analysis of stream flows, and investigating water quality and pollution.
In 1978, Mike provided supporting data to the British Geological Survey’s hydrogeological map of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. He also licensed groundwater abstractions and technical assessments of landfill applications. Another key project was investigating the Lower Greensand of the Eastern Yar catchment, Isle of Wight. In 1980, he was promoted to senior hydrogeologist and became a corporate member of the Institution of Geologists. He then became a Chartered geologist just one decade later. In 1983, he moved to the Isle of Wight as a water resources manager. Here, amongst other projects, he oversaw the installation of a freshwater pipeline under the Solent to augment the water resources of the Island.
Evolving career
In March 1989, Mike was moved to Southern Science, a wholly owned subsidiary of the newly privatised Southern Water. Here, he continued to work as principal hydrogeologist on a variety of projects for Southern Water, predominantly on the chalk aquifer, including deployable output assessments, pollution investigations, and the impact of HS1 on groundwater. He also undertook some private consultancy work, including one for a Scottish Whisky distillery in Islay and another with the Environment Agency in Solihull, where he developed the source protection zone methodology, which was then implemented throughout England and Wales. In March 1992, he was promoted to principal consultant within Southern Science.
In 1996, Mike rejoined Southern Water as chief hydrogeologist, a position he held until his retirement in 2023. He had a rigorous, technical evidence-based approach and freely shared his broad practical and technical knowledge throughout his career. He contributed to the development and implementation of Company Water Resources Plans, part of the Business Plan required by Ofwat and submitted every 5 years. He continued to be involved with wide ranging water resource studies, supervising a variety of consultants. These studies frequently led to the construction of regional and local source groundwater models. He was heavily involved in their steering groups, overseeing the conceptualisation, calibration and interpretation of such models, liaising with the Environment Agency and other interested parties. Mike also developed and mentored members of his team, and supporting them, even when they had moved on.
Other activities
Throughout his career, Mike was closely involved with university research; he lectured undergraduate students and supervised PhD students at the University of Portsmouth. He advised and worked with the hydrogeology group of the Geological Society, becoming an editor and, later, Chair of the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, as well as contributing to publications himself. In 2003, he was a founding member of the re-vamped UK Groundwater Forum, an organisation dedicated to the promotion and understanding of hydrogeology.
At a personal level, Mike was a cheerful, loyal, caring, gregarious gentle giant and a dedicated family man, who loved animals, walking, travelling, steam trains, and beer. An early Campaign for Real Ale member, he would always search out a good ale wherever he was visiting, be it for work or pleasure. Mike chose to remain with Southern Water to provide a stable home for his children, Tamsyn (born 1979), Justin (born 1981), and Darren (born 1984), with only a few local house moves until they settled permanently on the Isle of Wight in 1983. Mike also has three grandchildren, Beth, Ben, and Tilly, with whom he had a great and loving relationship. Sadly, in 2015, Paula very suddenly and unexpectedly passed away with a brain aneurysm. Her passing was a tremendous shock to Mike and his retirement plans were put on hold while he dealt with it. He was emerging from this shortly before his death.
By Robert Sage with thanks to Mike’s children and close friend, Steve Bennett