Obituary - Dr Geoff Hadley MBE
Dr Geoff Hadley – a Staffordshire born former member of the Botany Department of the University of Aberdeen has died aged 82. Geoff was an expert on root infecting fungi, mycorrhiza and in particular members of the genus Rhizoctonia. He studied the importance of this group of fungi to the growth of orchids and as a plant pathogen. Part of this academic career involved working in tropical field sites including Malaysia as a mycologist and world orchid expert. He was also an enthusiastic mentor and supporter of the career of young mycologists around the UK.
His career and service to mycology and the British Mycological Society earned him an MBE in 1999. He was keenly interested in local affairs and politics and served as an elected member and regional convener of Aberdeen County Council and then Grampian Regional Council during his 21 year political career between the 1970s through to the 1990’s.
He also served as chairman of Grampian Heart Campaign, leading the Grampian-Houston Association and chairing Aberdeen Civic Society as well as working on the management board of Hanover Scotland Housing Association. He was a keen bicyclist and fanatical player and follower of cricket (including service at the Banchory Cricket Club) and travelled the world as part of the “barmy army”. He has three daughters and is survived by his wife Margaret with whom he shared his passion for cricket and horticulture and classical music.
The Scotsman newspaper marked the passing of Dr Hadley with an obituary and this can be found at the URL