It is with deep regret that we have to announce the death of Howard Bartlett, a long standing subscriber to GCG. He first joined us in 1985, and although he only attended meetings held in Cardiff, he very much valued his association with our group.
Howard was born in 1952 and joined the staff of the Geology Department of what was then the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire (now Cardiff University) in April 1967 as a Junior Technician straight from school. At this time the department only had a Professor (Prof G.J.C Anderson), six lecturers and four technicians. He progressed to Senior Technician before retiring in 2012 after having spent his whole working life, of over 45 years, in the Department. His duties in the university were wide ranging, including making thin sections, assisting in a major way in the department's drilling programme and curating the department's collections, including rocks and maps as well as maintaining the microscopes and projectors.
Of the 168 boreholes drilled by the department during his employment Howard was involved in 87 of them. In 1968 he spent two weeks at Silbury Hill in Wiltshire on a joint venture with the Archaeology Department investigating this intriguing archaeological site, which was filmed by the BBC for the Chronicle series. In 1970 he appeared, with Dr. C. Blundell, Mr W Thomas and the drilling rig, on "Very Very Varied" a children's programme made by HTV. In 1970 he assisted with measuring the effects of Concorde's Sonic boom on the cliffs of St. Brides Bay, Pembrokeshire, as part of "Exercise Trafalgar", and also assisted Dr Robert Appleby with his use of the Analogue Video Reshaper. Despite retiring he continued to work for the WJEC preparing Geology practical examinations.
Howard was a member of the South Wales Geologists Association from the age of 13 (October 1965), and didn’t miss a single Cardiff-based meeting in 52 years. He gave several talks about his trips to China, and was a valued link with the university. Only this January, he donated his geology books and two microscopes to be sold to raise funds for the group.
His funeral will take place in the Wenallt Chapel at Thornhill Crematorium, Cardiff at 3.30pm on Wednesday 14th February.