Dudley Stamp and his influence

Dudley Stamp was the President of the GA in 1950, 75 years ago this year.

I posted previously about a display at the RGS of one of the 24 plaster relief models that was produced to be used for photographic plates in his 1951 book 'The Earth's Crust".

You can also watch a talk that George gave on the link here. Part of the 'Be Inspired' series. 

This post is a review of the talk linked to above, which is well worth watching.

• Admitted to KCL at the age of 15
• Active service with Royal Engineers during the War
• Masters in Geology at the time
• University of Rangoon

Geological advisor to oil company, and worked with Arthur Holmes in Burma - oil company later folded.

Had a knack for breaking down concepts and making them clear.

Worked with Longman for years, to produce books such as 'The World'.

Left to become Professor at LSE - not an academic researcher as such

Champion of geographer.

Prolific output "if you really believe in your own work, publish and be damned"

Land Utilisation Survey - first set out at GA Conference in 1929 (E. Field in Northamptonshire had done a smaller project)

Interest in land use was prompted by the survey in 1931. Led to him travelling all over the country. Hoped to produce a series of 3D models from photographic slides.

Gave many lectures and spoke at debates and appeared in the media.

Appeared on Desert Island Disks.

Saw incrasing geographical awareness as being of national importance.

Popularised geography - also through the 'New Naturalist' series. The final contribution was published posthumously.

Served as President of RGS from 1963-66 (the former being the year of my birth) and his portrait hangs in the East Staircase.

Models are in the RGS collections - made by Thomas Bayley. The talk goes back to their origins, some examples - many of which are in storage due to their fragility and the development of modelling itself.

Well worth a listen...