Thomas Stanley Westoll
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Thomas Stanley Westoll (1912-1995), was a Fellow of the Royal Society and long time head of the Department of Geology at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne.
[edit] Education and Career
He was born in West Hartlepool and began a brilliant career as zoologist, palaeontologist, but primarily a geologist when he entered Armstrong College by means of an open entrance scholarship in 1929. Armstrong College went on eventually to become the University of Newcastle upon Tyne. His association with the university was to endure throughout his life. He was head of department from 1948 until 1977. Even in retirement he remained as a Research Fellow and Chairman of Convocation. He was on the council of the Royal Society and from 1972 to 1974 was President of the Geological Society of London.
[edit] Reasearch Interests
His research interests were wide ranging but he is best known for his work on the evolution of fish. The development of the tetrapod limb and the Siluro-Devonian Problem were some of the topics which occupied him. Throughout a long academic career he made forceful and important contributions in these and other fields
[edit] Personal Memories
Professor Westoll presented an imposing figure to young undergraduates, in many of them he instilled deep respect and love. His introductory talk to freshmen always included a series of slides which illustrated student 'howlers' he had come across whilst marking exams. In later years he wore a severely built up heel but always walked quickly and purposefully despite it.
(source: edited from obituary by Dr Duncan Murchison);
