Dr. V. H. Veley, F.R.S

Abstract

Dr. V. H. Veley, who died on August 20, aged seventy-seven years, was my tutor from 1896 until 1900, and during term time I used to see him at least two evenings a week in his house in Norham Road, as well as working with him in the laboratory near the Parks about three mornings a week. At that time he had attained his fellowship of the Royal Society, and a considerable reputation, through his paper on the “Hydrate Theory of Solution”, which was at the time the subject of controversy, and had been made the subject of partisan feeling by the followers of the ionic dissociation theory of solution which was advocated by Ostwald. We, as Dr. Veley's pupils, had naturally to read both sides of the question, and just as naturally, I think most of us had leanings towards the views of our tutor. In the laboratory, whereas it cannot be said that he was a driver for idle pupils who wished to do as little work as possible, there was no doubt if one did take an interest he was always ready to help one in difficulties, and he had a very clear style in explaining and teaching.