AASP Primary Records Program

AASP Newsletter 27(4): p. 7-9, 1994.

NORMAN HUGHES (1918-1994)
A personal tribute by David J. Batten

Norman Hughes' recent death took many of his friends and colleagues by surprise. Despite having had some health problems within the last few years, he appeared, until very recently, to be as active as ever. Indeed, in all the years I knew him 9from early 1966) he seemed hardly to change physically at all. Since he retired in 1985 he extended his list of publications by two books and around half a dozen papers, and he continued to hold several offices at Queen's College in Cambridge where he was a Fellow. Many of the participants of the 5th International Palynological Conference in 1980 will have pleasant memories of being accommodated in this college for the duration of the meeting, the undoubted success of which was attributable in no small measure to his organizing ability.

An obituary by one of his colleagues, Brian Harland, which was published on October 7 in the British "quality" daily newspaper, The Independent, follows this personal tribute. Some additional facts and observations pertaining to Norman's career may be found in the introduction to Special Papers in Paleontology, 35 (1986) which I organized with the help of Derek Briggs (Bristol University) to mark his retirement. All of the articles in this volume were written by former students and others who had spent some time in Cambridge under his guidance. Those who were unable to contribute did not hesitate to wish the project well, a response that showed the respect on which Norman was held by those who had come to know him in his capacity as a Ph.D. supervisor or general mentor, despite any differences of opinion in matters academic. I am sure that for the majority of his students, what began as a pupil-teacher relationship sooner or later developed into a long-term friendship.

As Brian notes, Norman could appear authoritarian to some people. He could also be stubbornly argumentative, particularly in connection with one of his favorite topics; the failure, as he saw it, of the majority of the paleontologists (not only palynologists) to handle their taxonomic data satisfactorily. There was, however, a more relaxed and gentler side to his nature. Unlike some academics, he was noted, in particular, for being prepared to listen to, sympathize with, and help students with both academic and personal problems.

I found him to be a good supervisor. I appreciated being left to my own devices most of the time! Such an approach doesn't suit everyone of course, but in general I think he assumed that his students would be sufficiently motivated, self-confident and competent to develop their own research programs without undue interference on his part, one the topic and general approach to it had been agreed. On the other hand, he would chivy and cajole when necessary. Although for several months during my first year he was away in Thailand in his capacity as a geologist with the Territorial Army (TA), he was otherwise usually around when I needed to talk to him. Most discussions, in fact, took place over morning coffee and 'chocolate digestive' biscuits, and would commonly range on to non-palynological topics. I found him particularly helpful when writing up the results of my research.

Norman's work in Thailand and elsewhere with the TA was one manifestation of his wider concern for the world beyond the confines of academe. Politically he was an 'internationalist,' being especially concerned about improving the welfare of poor people in the developing world and in countries in the grip of oppressive dictatorships. More recently he was equally concerned about the rising ride of nationalism that has been sweeping through many countries. Socially he enjoyed good wine and conversation. He is survived by his wife Pam, a talented artist and companion of 50 years. He will be missed not only by those close to him but also by his many college and palynological colleagues and friends.

David J. Batten
Institute of Earth Sciences
University of Wales
Aberystwyth SY23 3DB, U.K.

NORMAN HUGHES by W.B. Harland
From The Independent, October 7, 1994

Norman Hughes was known internationally for his contribution in the field of palynology, the study of plant microfossils-mainly pollen and spores.

Hughes took the rare opportunity afforded by the Natural Sciences Tripos in Cambridge to become a geologist with a thorough biological training and wide interests in the life sciences. In his chosen field his rigorous work led to original methods and insights. Focusing on Mesozoic stratigraphy and the origins of flowering plants or angiosperms he developed methods for recording data and was early in employing the electron microscope, which yielded a new wealth of information beyond what could previously be seen.

The electron microscope's much greater magnification allowed a higher level of discrimination between different kinds of fossils, revealing small evolutionary changes which had previously been undetectable. Hughes argues the advantages of microfossils, which are samples in their thousands, as compared with megafossils from which species are erected often from few or even only one specimen.

His "biorecords" related individual characters to their stratigraphic context showing how much critical information is lost when only species descriptions are employed for the purposes of comparison. Many traditional paleontologists mistakenly perceived this as a threat to the time-hallowed Linnaean system of nomenclature in which so much had been invested. Hughes advocated his biorecords as a supplement rather than a replacement to this system, whose bands of classification are far less detailed. Regrettably his rigorous reasoning was too often ridiculed rather than countered. Hence he suffered, not by his own choosing, as an anti-establishment figure.

He argued against the common neontologists' practice of deducing evolutionary lineages from living material, on the basis that only the fossil record can provide reliable evidence. After authoring (and editing) more than 70 scientific papers and books, his last work, The Enigma of Angiosperm Origins (1994) throws down a methodological challenge to the biological community, with the possibility of no explanation in a single lineage. It remains to be seen how far this challenge will be met.

Hughes was born in 1918 and educated at King's College School, Wimbledon and Queen's College, Cambridge, where he won the Wiltshire Prize on Part I of the Natural Sciences Tripos before serving in Field and Survey Regiments of the Royal Artillery in North Africa and Italy. He completed his Part II in 1947 with First Class Honours and win the Harkness Scholarship. His military service continued, however, till 1970 in the Royal Engineers Specialist Pool of Geologists of the Territorial Army, rising to the rank of Colonel and advising on terrain in many parts of the world.

On graduating he became lecturer in Geology at Bedford College, London, and in 1952 he moved to a University Lectureship in Cambridge, where he remained until his retirement in 1985. During this period, entirely on his own initiative and working with succession of some 25 research students, he developed an internationally recognized school in palynology. He served as President of the International Commission for Palynology in the early Seventies and on many other international organizations, including two subcommissions of the Commission of Stratigrathy of the International Union of Geological Sciences, and he led projects in the International Geological Correlation Program.

Hughes was one of the founding members of the Paleontological Association and served it for many years in various capacities. He was active in other bodies, notably the Geological Society of London, especially chairing the Stratigraphy Committee. He was awarded (by Cambridge) an Sc.D. degree on his research in 1977.

Hughes was elected to a Fellowship at Queen's. Cambridge in 1963, and continued till his death, serving college offices, not least as an expert in wine. As Steward he figured in the BBC television series on the college in 1984.

Not long before his death he and his wife Pamela, who survives him, celebrated their golden wedding. They had no children. Together they enjoyed the countryside, especially bird-watching, and he actively supported her career as an artist.

As a person Norman Hughes was a heavyweight, not easily ignored. Perhaps in the eyes of some he could appear outrageously authoritarian. But in personal contacts he was exceptionally unselfish and generous with his time, especially to students. He belonged to a diminishing university tradition where teaching is primary, requiring hours of meticulous preparation of materials.

Conscientious in all he undertook and expressing himself with economy and precision, he was one of the rocks on which the excellence of a university system is built.

Biographical Summary. Norman Francis Hughes, geologist: Born 4 August 1918; Lecturer in Geology, Bedford College London 1947-52; Lecturer in Earth Sciences, Cambridge University 1952-85; Fellow, Queen's College, Cambridge 1963-94; married 1944 Pamela Le Boutillier; died Cambridge 18 September 1994.