24 
During the first World War he was commissioned in the R.A.M.C. and 
served in Salonica with the Mobile Hygiene Laboratory, mainly for water analysis 
and mosquito extermination. Contracting malaria and dysentery, he returned to 
England. Later he was engaged in secret work and held important office, including 
that of King's Messenger and was Mentioned in Dispatches. 
At the end of [he 1914-18 war Mr. Read was appointed Deputy Chief 
Inspector and Chief Chemist to the West Riding Rivers' Board. In 1923 he joined 
Messrs. Cooke. Sons & Co.. where he rapidly rose to the post of director and 
remained until the end of the 1939-45 war. during which the factory produced 
machine tools. 
Mr. Read was elected an Honorary Member of the Spen Valley Literary and 
Scientific Society after having been its President. He was also a member of the 
council of the Spen Valley Chamber of Commerce and became successively 
Chairman. Vice-President and President. 
Retiring to Bournemouth. Mr. Read joined the B.N.S.S. and immediately 
became an active member. He gave his first lecture on Hydroponics to the Biology 
Section and was prominent on all Field Meetings, where his knowledge of micro 
life was a considerable help. One of his researches was into the problem of 
ground ice formations on the bed of the Avon and other rivers, an interesting 
paper on which he contributed to the Proceedings. 
Within a yeai of joining the Society he became Secretary, 1945-51. In this 
post and as Chairman from 1955-57. he is remembered for his business ability 
and. particularly, as being responsible for obtaining approval for Covenanted 
Subscriptions — a great asset to the Society. 
He was elected President in 1954 and gave his address on "Mankind and 
Water", a striking example of application of biological knowledge to the practical 
and vital needs of mankind. In 1967 he was made an Honorary Member of the 
Society in appreciation of his services. 
After coming to Bournemouth Mr. Read was appointed Honorary Consultant 
to the Avon and Dorset Rivers* Board and investigated the death of trout in the 
Ibsley Trout Hatchery. He was also in touch with the Test and Itchen Fishery 
Association for many years. 
To all these interests he brought the thoroughness and meticulousness of the 
true scientist. His keen sense of humour and unassuming personality made him 
well liked by his contemporaries and all those with whom he worked. To his 
devoted wife the members extend warmest sympathy. 
GEORGE ALEXANDER SHILLIDY, CLE. 
The Society suffered a grievous loss through the sudden death of Mr. Shillidy 
on 28th June. 1968. He was the son of the Rev. John Shillidy. ma., d.d., being 
born 7th March. 1886 at Surat. India. He was educated at Campbell College, 
Belfast. In 1906 he returned to India to enter the Indian Police, and thus rejoined 
his missionary father and his elder brother who w T as already in the Indian Civil 
Service, to make a remarkable combined family effort in the service of that 
country. In 1926 he became Assistant Inspector-General of Police and was 
Inspector-General in the Piovince of Bombay from 1935 to 1940. In 1922 he 
received the King's Medal and in 1931 was made Commander of the Indian 
Empire in recognition of his service — a fact to which he seldom alluded. 
Mr. and Mrs. Shillidy. with their son and daughter, settled in England in 
1942. Their only son was killed in action in 1944. 
George Shillidy was always proud of his native Ulster descent, but on retire- 
ment it was in Bournemouth (after an interval at Oxford and New Milton) that 
they settled. Characteristically he very soon interested himself in the active 
younger people of the Bournemouth Rambling Club, of which he became first 
Chairman and then President. This led him deep into the topography, archaeology 
and history of Hampshire and Dorset, laying the foundation for further wide 
and deep study. In 1950 he joined the B.N.S.S. and became a familiar figure at 
lectures, excursions and other functions. During all his adult life, archaeology 
was his favourite subject. His first public occasion was a fine lecture on the 
vanished Indian empire of Mohonjedaro. of the discovery and excavation of 
which he had intimate local knowledge. 
