Robin Charles Ignatius Whatley was born in England (Hawkhurst) on December 2nd 1936 and, being 79 years old, died in Wales on June 4th 2016. He attended the Sir Norton Knatchbull Grammar School in Ashford, Kent, and then took various jobs in farming, fishing and the National Service in the fifties. He received his higher education at the University of Hull, where he graduated with a First-class honours degree in both Geology and Zoology (1962). There, he subsequently earned a Ph.D. with an excellent Thesis on the Callovian and Oxfordian Ostracoda of England and Scotland (1965).Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

Damborenea, Susana Ester

Manceñido, Miguel Oscar

Servicio de Difusión de la Creación Intelectual

ROBIN WHATLEY (1936-2016)SUSANA E. DAMBORENEAMIGUEL O. MANCEÑIDOPLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLEAlso appearing in this issue:Vertebral sutural complexity revealsstress patterns along the axialskeleton of the African sauropodSpinophorosaurus.Two-stage recovery patternof scleractinian corals afterthe Triassic/Jurassic extinctionevent.New data suggest a LateTithonian age for the earliestrecords of Spiticeras in Gondwana.AMEGHINIANA - 2017 - Volume 54 (1): 134 – 135 134Robin Charles IgnatiusWhatley was born in England(Hawkhurst) on December 2nd1936 and, being 79 years old,died in Wales on June 4th 2016.He attended the Sir NortonKnatchbull Grammar School inAshford, Kent, and then tookvarious jobs in farming, fishingand the National Service in thefifties. He received his highereducation at the University ofHull, where he graduated with aFirst-class honours degree inboth Geology and Zoology (1962).There, he subsequently earned aPh.D. with an excellent Thesis onthe Callovian and Oxfordian Os-tracoda of England and Scotland(1965). By that time, he joinedthe staff of the Geology Departmentof the University College of Walesat Aberystwyth, academic institutionwhere he developed a brilliant career,deservedly obtained a personal chair in1988, and finally attained the statusof Professor Emeritus in 2001. In spiteof being retired and facing serioushealth problems, he managed to pro-duce valuable research, literally untilthe very day of his death, with the in-defatigable help and support of hiswife and colleague, Dr. Caroline AnneMaybury.Robin lived and worked in Argen-tina between 1970-1973, supportedby the overseas development agencyof the British Council and the Argen-tinian National Research Council(CONICET). During that spell he madean everlasting impression in the Ar-gentinian scientific community, docu-mented the diversity of past andpresent ostracod faunas, taught mi-cropalaeontology at La Plata Univer-sity, and laid the foundations of theMicropalaeontology Laboratory at theLa Plata Museum. His lectures werealways an insightful and stimulatingexperience, since he was an inspiredteacher, who was ever involved withthe interests of each of his students.That stay was also propitious fortravelling across the territory, whichenabled him to visit many differentregions, nonetheless, the ‘pampas’remained his favourite. Simultane-ously, he developed and reared friend-ships with Argentinian scientists andother people, which he maintainedand increased through the years. Hiscorrespondence was often signed as“Robincito”. He always felt a spe-cial fondness towards our countryand its customs and manners (likethe ‘asados’). He was an activemember of the Argentine Palaeon-tological Association (APA), helpingin many ways, and formed part ofthe Scientific Editorial Board ofAmeghiniana (where he stood byhis convictions). In recognition forhis influential achievements, hewas designated as CorrespondingMember of both the ArgentineGeological Association (1995) andthe National Academy of Exact,Physical and Natural Sciences inBuenos Aires (1991), distinctionshe was very proud of.He nurtured broad interests inGeology and Palaeontology, de-voting himself particularly to thestudy of post-Palaeozoic ostracods.He was a most prolific author, publish-ing nearly four hundred relevant andlasting contributions to our knowledgeof these microfossils from many placesaround the world, including SouthAmerica and Argentina in particular(for a recent list in full, see Riccardi,2016, Rev. Asoc. Geol. Arg. 73: 442). Hisnumerous papers, often monographic,appeared in leading journals, severalbooks and symposia proceedings. Hewas also committedly involved in therevision of the ostracod Treatise on In-vertebrate Paleontology, Part Q, untan-gling a range of complex taxonomicissues (yet, failing to receive enoughtechnical support for photographingevery type specimen, as was his wish).He felt at ease with fossil as well asROBIN WHATLEY (1936-2016)ROBIN WHATLEY 1936 - 2016 135extant taxa, dealing with various as-pects of their biology, systematics,ecology, taphonomy, biogeography,biostratigraphy and evolution.Robin supervised undergraduate,Masters, Doctoral and Post-Doctoralstudents (not only from Great Britain)by the hundreds; all of them benefi-ted from his guidance and tuition andmany went on themselves into suc-cessful careers in micropalaeontologyin various corners of the globe. Robinwas responsible, together with Pro-fessor John Haynes, for building up animpressive, superbly-curated micro-palaeontological research collectionnaturally linked with the activities ofthe well-known “Aberystwyth Micro-palaeontology programme”. Followingthe closure of the Aberystwyth Geo-logy Department in 2000, the 62 mi-croslide cabinets housing cataloguedmicrofossils from the world’s oceansand more than a hundred differentcountries were bequeathed to the Na-tural History Museum, London. Hisexpertise was internationally renow-ned and widely recognized by his colle-agues; for instance, he was made anhonorary life member of The Micropa-laeontological Society (TMS) in 2004,and a forthcoming scientific MemorialEvent is scheduled for January 30th2017 in the Geological Society, Bur-lington House, London, by the Ostra-cod Group of TMS.A bold personality coupled with aninquisitive, sharp mind stimulatedRobin to undertake every endeavourwith verve and passion; he was hos-pitable, generous and had a witty senseof humour. His many hobbies weremostly outdoors, such as hunting,shooting (aided by his well-trainedgundogs: Darwin, Wallace, Huxley andLyell), birdwatching, gardening, saltand freshwater fishing and lobsterpotting (he used to steer his sea-boat“Old Jake”, mainly in Cardigan Bay). Onthe other hand, he also enjoyed  hand-crafting his own fishing- flies with skill(see photo), listening to classical music,and was an accomplished military andnaval historian, a classicist (able to readGreek and Latin), and a model-railwayenthusiast. He was a keen travellerwhen health permitted, having visitedall seven continents while attendingconferences, acting as an externalexaminer, viewing specimens in reposi-tories and collecting samples. Following a funeral service with aTridentine Requiem Mass (the rite heliked best), held at St. Michaels Church,Aberystwyth on June 26th 2016, hewas buried at Hafod Churchyard,Cwmystwyth. His final departure hasleft a sorrowful void in the hearts ofthose who were privileged with hisfriendship. We share our deep griefand sympathy with Caroline, Gregory,Madeleine, Vicky and Guy. Doubtless,he will likewise be sorely missed inmany other academic institutionsworldwide.Susana E. DamboreneaMiguel O. ManceñidoDivisión Paleozoología InvertebradosMuseo de Ciencias Naturales La PlataPaseo del Bosque s/nB1900FWA La Plata, Argentina

Robin Whatley (1936-2016)

SEDICI - Repositorio de la UNLP

ROBIN WHATLEY 
(1936-2016)
SUSANA E. DAMBORENEA
MIGUEL O. MANCEÑIDO
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLEAlso appearing in this issue:
Vertebral sutural complexity reveals
stress patterns along the axial
skeleton of the African sauropod
Spinophorosaurus.
Two-stage recovery pattern
of scleractinian corals after
the Triassic/Jurassic extinction
event.
New data suggest a Late
Tithonian age for the earliest
records of Spiticeras in Gondwana.
AMEGHINIANA - 2017 - Volume 54 (1): 134 – 135 
134
Robin Charles Ignatius
Whatley was born in England
(Hawkhurst) on December 2nd
1936 and, being 79 years old,
died in Wales on June 4th 2016.
He attended the Sir Norton
Knatchbull Grammar School in
Ashford, Kent, and then took
various jobs in farming, fishing
and the National Service in the
fifties. He received his higher
education at the University of
Hull, where he graduated with a
First-class honours degree in
both Geology and Zoology (1962).
There, he subsequently earned a
Ph.D. with an excellent Thesis on
the Callovian and Oxfordian Os-
tracoda of England and Scotland
(1965). By that time, he joined
the staff of the Geology Department
of the University College of Wales
at Aberystwyth, academic institution
where he developed a brilliant career,
deservedly obtained a personal chair in
1988, and finally attained the status
of Professor Emeritus in 2001. In spite
of being retired and facing serious
health problems, he managed to pro-
duce valuable research, literally until
the very day of his death, with the in-
defatigable help and support of his
wife and colleague, Dr. Caroline Anne
Maybury.
Robin lived and worked in Argen-
tina between 1970-1973, supported
by the overseas development agency
of the British Council and the Argen-
tinian National Research Council
(CONICET). During that spell he made
an everlasting impression in the Ar-
gentinian scientific community, docu-
mented the diversity of past and
present ostracod faunas, taught mi-
cropalaeontology at La Plata Univer-
sity, and laid the foundations of the
Micropalaeontology Laboratory at the
La Plata Museum. His lectures were
always an insightful and stimulating
experience, since he was an inspired
teacher, who was ever involved with
the interests of each of his students.
That stay was also propitious for
travelling across the territory, which
enabled him to visit many different
regions, nonetheless, the ‘pampas’
remained his favourite. Simultane-
ously, he developed and reared friend-
ships with Argentinian scientists and
other people, which he maintained
and increased through the years. His
correspondence was often signed as
“Robincito”. He always felt a spe-
cial fondness towards our country
and its customs and manners (like
the ‘asados’). He was an active
member of the Argentine Palaeon-
tological Association (APA), helping
in many ways, and formed part of
the Scientific Editorial Board of
Ameghiniana (where he stood by
his convictions). In recognition for
his influential achievements, he
was designated as Corresponding
Member of both the Argentine
Geological Association (1995) and
the National Academy of Exact,
Physical and Natural Sciences in
Buenos Aires (1991), distinctions
he was very proud of.
He nurtured broad interests in
Geology and Palaeontology, de-
voting himself particularly to the
study of post-Palaeozoic ostracods.
He was a most prolific author, publish-
ing nearly four hundred relevant and
lasting contributions to our knowledge
of these microfossils from many places
around the world, including South
America and Argentina in particular
(for a recent list in full, see Riccardi,
2016, Rev. Asoc. Geol. Arg. 73: 442). His
numerous papers, often monographic,
appeared in leading journals, several
books and symposia proceedings. He
was also committedly involved in the
revision of the ostracod Treatise on In-
vertebrate Paleontology, Part Q, untan-
gling a range of complex taxonomic
issues (yet, failing to receive enough
technical support for photographing
every type specimen, as was his wish).
He felt at ease with fossil as well as
ROBIN WHATLEY 
(1936-2016)
ROBIN WHATLEY 1936 - 2016 
135
extant taxa, dealing with various as-
pects of their biology, systematics,
ecology, taphonomy, biogeography,
biostratigraphy and evolution.
Robin supervised undergraduate,
Masters, Doctoral and Post-Doctoral
students (not only from Great Britain)
by the hundreds; all of them benefi-
ted from his guidance and tuition and
many went on themselves into suc-
cessful careers in micropalaeontology
in various corners of the globe. Robin
was responsible, together with Pro-
fessor John Haynes, for building up an
impressive, superbly-curated micro-
palaeontological research collection
naturally linked with the activities of
the well-known “Aberystwyth Micro-
palaeontology programme”. Following
the closure of the Aberystwyth Geo-
logy Department in 2000, the 62 mi-
croslide cabinets housing catalogued
microfossils from the world’s oceans
and more than a hundred different
countries were bequeathed to the Na-
tural History Museum, London. His
expertise was internationally renow-
ned and widely recognized by his colle-
agues; for instance, he was made an
honorary life member of The Micropa-
laeontological Society (TMS) in 2004,
and a forthcoming scientific Memorial
Event is scheduled for January 30th
2017 in the Geological Society, Bur-
lington House, London, by the Ostra-
cod Group of TMS.
A bold personality coupled with an
inquisitive, sharp mind stimulated
Robin to undertake every endeavour
with verve and passion; he was hos-
pitable, generous and had a witty sense
of humour. His many hobbies were
mostly outdoors, such as hunting,
shooting (aided by his well-trained
gundogs: Darwin, Wallace, Huxley and
Lyell), birdwatching, gardening, salt
and freshwater fishing and lobster
potting (he used to steer his sea-boat
“Old Jake”, mainly in Cardigan Bay). On
the other hand, he also enjoyed  hand-
crafting his own fishing- flies with skill
(see photo), listening to classical music,
and was an accomplished military and
naval historian, a classicist (able to read
Greek and Latin), and a model-railway
enthusiast. He was a keen traveller
when health permitted, having visited
all seven continents while attending
conferences, acting as an external
examiner, viewing specimens in reposi-
tories and collecting samples. 
Following a funeral service with a
Tridentine Requiem Mass (the rite he
liked best), held at St. Michaels Church,
Aberystwyth on June 26th 2016, he
was buried at Hafod Churchyard,
Cwmystwyth. His final departure has
left a sorrowful void in the hearts of
those who were privileged with his
friendship. We share our deep grief
and sympathy with Caroline, Gregory,
Madeleine, Vicky and Guy. Doubtless,
he will likewise be sorely missed in
many other academic institutions
worldwide.
Susana E. Damborenea
Miguel O. Manceñido
División Paleozoología Invertebrados
Museo de Ciencias Naturales La Plata
Paseo del Bosque s/n
B1900FWA La Plata, Argentina


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Robin Whatley (1936-2016)

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