D. P. MASON

Abstract

Douglas Mason died suddenly on 29 October 1986. After an illustrious career first with Royal Engineers' Survey Units, and then as a land surveyor, working in many countries including Nigeria, the Antarctic, Indonesia and the Sudan, the final part of his professional life was spent lecturing at University College London. He also made memorable contributions to the work of the Territorial Survey Regiment and to the British Antarctic Survey. He was a holder of the Polar Medal. He was indeed a member of that rare breed of persons who combine a brilliant mind with a thorough dedication to detail and a true sense of the practical. An abstruse theoretical point in a lecture would suddenly be illustrated with devastating clarity by reference to some practical issue gleaned from his broad experience. He continually amazed and enriched his colleagues with accurate detailed knowledge from a seemingly unfathomable memory. He could never tolerate shoddy work or casual attitudes: for him the only way to perform a task was' properly'. Sometimes this attitude gave him an iconoclastic air, which was unwarranted, and which made him appear to be unhelpful. Nothing could have been further from the truth. He was ever ready to 'go the other mile' to help a genuine enquirer. Memories of Douglas's great intellect are many, but none so sha-flKl:s those exhibited in his spirited arguments on some statistical nicety ~ with the late Professor E. H. Thompson. Douglas gave most of his university effort to the teaching of his students, to the correction of their course work, and to the development of many useful computer programs. That his university career did not advance to the heights which he could easily have achieved was a matter of his own choice. He was a lively companion on social occasions, often enthralling his friends with a spontaneous limerick to suit the mood. It is a pity that his retirement lasted but a year before he was suddenly stricken down, leaving a widow and a son and daughter. However, he has left behind him a legacy pf many students who are for ever grateful for his excellent teaching, his friendly guidance, and his personal example. A. L. ALLAN