RON TAVENER-SMITH – Obituary

RON TAVENER-SMITH
MSc, PhD, DSc
27.04.1927-04.08.2024

Born in Liverpool on 27th April 1927.
Left Rhyl grammar school to join the Indian army (Sept 1944).
Served in India, Burma and latterly in Japan during the allied occupation. He served with The Royal Welch Fusiliers rising to the rank of Captain.
He was demobilized in July 1948. and enrolled at The University College of Wales, Aberystwyth to study Zoology and Geology.
After gaining his honours degree in 1952 he married Maureen née Davies, and later he would have 3 sons.
Ron was appointed to the British Colonial Service as a geologist and was assigned to map the geology of the upper Zambezi River in what was then Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). Specifically, he was engaged in the search for workable coal deposits.
Moved back to the UK (July 1958). To his credit, by this time, he already had ten publications.
Joined the Geology department as assistant lecturer at Queens University Belfast, Northern Ireland.
He became involved in Palaeontogical research and achieved an M.Sc then Ph.D. in 1967. His specific interest was fossil bryozoa. By 1970 he was promoted to Senior Lecturer.
Family moved to Durban, South Africa in 1973 where he took up the position of Professor and Head of the Geology department at the University of Natal, Durban, South Africa. He focused on sedimentology and coal petrology.
In 1983, he became Dean of the Faculty of Science. Ron retired in 1995. He became an Emeritus Professor in the University of Natal. He had contributed a huge number of journal articles and scientific publications.
By and large he was a model of self-discipline, (his life in the army greatly had a substantial influence).
Loved gardening and hiking in the Drakensberg mountains. Was an avid reader of history and latterly wrote on many subjects including the Tavener family history, and his life growing up during the 2nd world war as well as his experiences in the army. He had a deeply enquiring mind, an incredible memory and could articulate on many subjects without seeming opinionated.
Ron retired to his cottage in Underberg and remarried in 2017, to Annette des Clayes. He died of old age at Howick, KZN on the 4th August 2024. He lived to a grand old age of 97.