By J. Brock (FINN)

Dr. Fannin during one of his visits to the Falklands

It was with sadness that news of Dr. Nigel Fannin’s death after a long illness on Tuesday, 04 November 2003. He was well liked here because he had the knack for making the most complicated subjects of hydrocarbons and geology understandable to the majority of the people who attended his public meetings. Along with Dr. Phil Richards, Dr. Fannin, both employed by the Falkland Islands’ geological consultants, British Geological Survey (BGS) he travelled to Camp as well as Stanley in order that people could be informed about what would happen when oil exploration began in earnest in the Falklands.

Dr. Fannin would often spend weeks in the Falklands while helping with the set-up of the now Mineral Resources Department as well as attending various meetings overseas, such as the American Association of Petroleum Geologists annual conference in the United States. He was also a member of the British delegation to the Joint Hydrocarbons Commission that was set up to monitor the Joint Area of Co-operation to the South/West of the Falklands.

His expertise, warmth, drive, and enthusiasm for oil exploration in the South/West Atlantic will be sadly missed. To Dr. Fannin’s family and friends both here in the Falklands, overseas and in the UK, the most heart felt sympathy.