SIBLY
,
Sir
THOMAS FRANKLIN
(
1883
-
1948
),
geologist and university administrator
;
b.
25 Oct. 1883
in
Bristol
, s. of
Thomas Dix
Sibly
and his wife
Virginia
(née
Tonkin
)
. He was educated at
Wycliffe College
,
Stonehouse
, and at
St. Dunstan's
,
Burnham-on-sea
, and gained a 1st-class hons. degree in experimental physics (
Univ. of London
) at the
University College of Bristol
in
1903
. He turned to
geology
at
Birmingham University
and he was
Exhibition Research Scholar
at
U.C. Bristol
1905-07
; he graduated
D.Sc. London
in
1908
. He was
lecturer-in-charge of geology
at
King's College
London
1908-13
,
Prof. of Geology
,
Univ. College Cardiff
1913-18
, and
Prof. of Geology
at
Armstrong College
,
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
(
University of Durham
)
1918-20
. He became the first
principal
of the
University College of Swansea
in
1920
and he played a crucial role in setting the new institution on a firm foundation. He was a firm and strong leader, a forceful advocate and a gifted
administrator
. It has been claimed that it was due to him that the new college was not allowed to harbour an inferiority complex in its relations with its older sister colleges in the University. In
1926
he was appointed
Chief Officer of the University of London
, a title changed at his appointment to
Principal
, and he became
Vice-chancellor
of the
University of Reading
1929-46
, where he did much to guide the development of the young university. His skills as a
negotiator
ensured that he was a
leading figure in British university administration
. He was
chairman
of the
Committee of Vice-chancellors and Principals
1938-43
,
executive chairman
of the
Universities Bureau of the British Empire
, and he served on the
Advisory Council
of the
Dept. of Scientific and Industrial Research
, and the
Royal Commission in the University of Durham
. Between
1905-1937
he
published a series of articles on carboniferous limestones
; he served on
H.M. Geological Survey
1917-18
and he was
chairman
of the
Geological Survey Board
1930-43
. He was
knighted
in
1938
and he was awarded the degrees of
D.Sc. Bristol
,
LL.D.
hon. causa
Wales
,
Liverpool
and
Bristol
. He m.
Maude Evelyn
Barfoot
in
1918
and they had 1 s. He d. in
Reading
13 Apr. 1948
.
Bibliography:
-
Who was who?
;
-
Oxford Dictionary of National
Biography
;
-
D. Emrys Evans
,
The University of Wales a historical
sketch
, 1953
(1953)
;
-
David Dykes
,
The University College of Swansea an
illustrated history
, Stroud, 1992
(1992)
.
Author:
Dr Brynley Francis Roberts, Aberystwyth
