Nchanga Metallurgists Rugby XV, 1973

[barrywills]

I can identify a few people in the photo (see www.min-eng.com/photos/may06.html for full details), but would be interested in hearing from anyone who might be able to fill in the gaps and provide any info on their present whereabouts.



Back row: Unknown; Mike Blowers, who I think was Tailings Leach Plant Superintendent; Phil Cudby, also involved on the tailings leach plant, now semi-retired in UK; Giles Day, now living in Cyprus; Jock McGregor, now sadly deceased; Barry Wills of MEI; Unknown; Stuart Mellor, who I last saw in 1982, when he was superintendent at Harmony Gold Mine, South Africa; Doug Edmonds, now referee on TV's 'World's Strongest Man'.

Front row: John Farthing, leach plant metallurgist; Crawford Masson of Analytical Services; Sandy Lambert, now head of research at Anglo American Research Labs, South Africa; Unkown; Unknown; Unknown

[Phil Cudby]

Person - Rear Left with beard - was the leach plant Engineer, I can't remember his name - but I do remember that he drove a Renault 12 TL - because I bought one when I returned to UK - I liked his so much !!

[Email to BW from LM]

Barry,

Great picture!

FYI Sandy retires this month from Anglo.

[barrywills]

Thanks for info Liam. Sandy, if you are reading this, all the very best for your retirement.

[barrywills]

An extract of an email received from MIKE BLOWERS:

I thought I gave up rugby completely in 1971 when I punctured a lung in a Rhokana/Chingola needle match, but it certainly looks like me in the back row (and my wife Hazel says it definitely is!). You had better correct my title, it was acting Super., I was never substantiated Leach Plant Superintendent, though I acted as such for several years before I left for New Zealand at the end of 73.

Now pretty well retired, though occasionally tempted into short consultancies in interesting places. Presently living in Nelson, New Zealand, have worked at various times in New Zealand (Fertilisers) and Papua New Guinea (University of Technology). Can't recognise any of the un-named persons in the photo, but will try it out on a few who may know. Don't know if you remember Hans Zaiyer who was metallurgist at the same time as me, one of the many Dutch trained metallurgists, anyway he is visiting us in a months time and might know some of the faces.

[barrywills]

By email from Martin Baynes:

Front row, next to Sandy Lambert is me Martin Baynes pulling a funny face, and next to him Jeff Davies, both of us were from Analytical services and worked with Crawford Masson, I now split my time between China and UK and am working on a variety of projects. Jeff Davies is in South Africa.

Back row, guy with the beard is Howard Watkins also analytical services now lives in Maesteg South Wales I think retired.

[barrywills]

Email received today from Jeff Davies:

I was given a copy of the mets rugby team in 1973 and perhaps I can throw some light on the people classified as "unknown"
Next to Sandy Lambert is Martin Baynes - one of the chemists and last heard of managing a personal care factory in China around 2003
Next to Martin is myself, Jeff Davies, at that time also a chemist but I moved over to the Met Dept in 1975 and ended up as Asst Supt TLP.
I ended up working for ICI Chemicals in South Africa and oversaw the sale of ICI to Akzo Nobel and ultimately Henkel for the adhesives division.
I retired in Sept 2008 and continue to reside in Johannesburg.
Next to myself is Alistair Scott, also a chemist, who returned to the UK +- 1977 to enter the field of Water Treatment, no news since I'm afraid.
I last saw Giles and Val in 1998 prior to their move to Cyprus.
Many fond memories came flooding back when I viewed the photo.
I remained in Zambia until 1980 and joined the then Cyanamid company focussing on flotation and flocculation so I returned many times to Chingola.
Please pass on my regards to any who remember myself and/or my wife Sheila (nee Burrell).
Regards....... Jeff Davies

[meadowsp]

A few of those in the photo I have heard of since; Phil Cudby, Stuart Mellor, Doug Edmunds, Giles Day and Sandy Lambert I mention in the previous posting. thingy Rushmore was a concentrator metallurgist, and Tony Jones plant metallurgist on the tailings leach plant. I worked with both of them, but have heard nothing of them since leaving Zambia in 1973. Chris Morley is a principal process consultant at Ausenco in Australia, and has attended a couple of recent MEI Conferences.

[ridgepoint]

An archival social and technological history of 21st Century mineral processing. Barry Wills of MEI presents news and views on mineral processing, as well as occasionally indulging his passions for travel, outdoor activities, geology, history and Cornwall.