Roger Williamson died at home, in Hagley, Worcestershire on 13 July 2010 aged 48. Diagnosed four years previously with a rare gastro-intestinal stomal tumour, his treatment was fully successful for the first three years. During this time he worked and lived with his family and had a very full life including - travelling in America, Europe and Malaysia, climbing in the Alps, playing golf, enjoying the British countryside and mountains, and socialising with his many friends.
He was born in Wigan, Lancashire where he attended Upholland Grammar School prior to graduating in Geology from the Department of Earth Sciences at Leeds University in 1983. For the next year he worked in the north of England in his father`s practice in site investigation and geological resource evaluation. He then returned to Leeds where he was awarded an MSc in Engineering Geology in 1985. He then worked in the West Midlands for Johnson, Poole and Bloomer and subsequently the Dudley Local Authority.
In 1990 he joined the staff of Ground Investigation and Piling of Wolverhampton. There he became a Director with special responsibility for ground contamination and landfill gas risk assessments together with mining remediation projects. He acted as a Professional Scrutineer for the Society with regard to applicants for Chartered Status.
Roger was highly respected by and popular with a wide circle of friends and colleagues. He was a particularly straightforward person and you knew where you were with him - particularly on the rugby pitch, playing his favourite sport for his school, Orrell Colts, Leeds University, Ambleside and Stourbridge. He was still playing until late 2006.
He is survived by his wife Gail, their sons Ross and Billy (bother rugger enthusiasts and with strong scientific leanings), his parents Iain and Patricia and sister Catriona.
Iain A. Williamson