The Early History of an Applied Geoscience Consultancy: Setting up GWP

 by Geoffrey Walton

'The Early History of an Applied Geoscience Consultancy: Setting up GWP' is an account of how a firm based in rural central England was set up and developed by  someone with an urge to establish a business that advised a somewhat neglected sector  of industrial activity.  Whereas civil engineering had many major projects following  WWII, quarrying and mining were regarded by some as of minor interest unless it was linked to infrastructure projects.  Civil engineering could do whatever military  engineering did not.  Typical of this was when a practical paper on opencast slope  stability was accepted in the first International Conference on Engineering Geology  in Paris in 1970 but it was relegated to the rear of the Proceedings in a section called in French Diveres.  However, determined efforts to do business abroad in the Americas,  Africa, Asia and Australia allowed the nascent consultancy to grow and thrive in ways  that would be difficult today. 

There were incidents of attempted corruption and non-payment, but also opportunities  to explore different places.  Two staff died on the job – the extractive industries can be  a dangerous environment, but necessary – if you cannot grow or recycle it you have to  mine it!  Improving safety regulations has been a lengthy process in Great Britain. But  there are also many amusing incidents along the way. 

The author is interested in the history of science and technology but especially  extractive industry geology.  However, from its early years in the 19th century too  little attention has been given to the application of the science until the last 3 or 4 decades. William Smith the father of English Geology got it right.  Vital parts of  Smith’s Memoir accompanying his ground-breaking map of 1815 were his geological  tables; a key element of these was the listing of ‘The Products of the Strata’.  The  application of science was the objective and for much of his life Smith called himself  an Engineer and Mineral Surveyor.

As Hugh Torrens says in the Foreword there are too few histories of geoscience  consultancies. This one is worth reading.

'To write a history of an active firm requires a balance of compression and extension to reveal the breadth of activity and overview of current events, while selecting representative projects and clients to demonstrate the technical, social, political, and personal detail of working life.  Walton manages this compromise well to make a satisfying read with a useful index.'  John Henry - Geoscientist

£15 + £3 post & packing (UK)