Simon Kelly

In Memoriam

16th October 1949 – 19th May 2023

Simon joined CASP as a consultant in 1984, conducting field-based research on Svalbard, prior to working as palaeontologist with the British Antarctic Survey (1988-1994). He returned to CASP in 1994, conducting fieldwork and integrated biostratigraphic studies in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Arctic Canada and, most notably, East Greenland.

Simon’s principal research focused on the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, specialising in molluscan biostratigraphy and palaeoecology. His research was especially influential in establishing stratigraphical schemes for East Greenland. Simon authored seventy scientific articles.

Simon was also curator of CASP’s geological collections until 2020, overseeing their transfer into a purpose-built rock store that now bears his name.

In 2000, Simon was awarded the Polar Medal for his Arctic and Antarctic service. During the subsequent 19 years, Simon participated in a further 14 Arctic field seasons for which he was awarded a prestigious second clasp for his Polar Medal in the 2023 New Year Honours list.

Publications

• Early Cenomanian ammonites from East and North-East Greenland
• A new plant macrofossil assemblage from the Rhaetian–Hettangian Fosheim Member of the Heiberg Formation on Ellesmere Island, Arctic Canada
• Palynology of Early Cretaceous (Barremian to Aptian) hydrocarbon (methane) seep carbonates and associated mudstones, Wollaston Forland, Northeast Greenland
• The ‘coprolite’ bearing Woburn Sands Formation, Lower Greensand Group (Aptian) at Upware, Cambridgeshire, UK