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Ian Mumford obituary Ian Mumford obituary
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My father, Ian Mumford, who has died aged 90, made a large contribution to our understanding of the history of the Ordnance Survey and of mapmaking in general, as a founder and first honorary secretary of the British Cartographic Society, as author of several chapters of the official history of the Ordnance Survey, and as a leading member of the Charles Close Society for the study of OS maps.My father, Ian Mumford, who has died aged 90, made a large contribution to our understanding of the history of the Ordnance Survey and of mapmaking in general, as a founder and first honorary secretary of the British Cartographic Society, as author of several chapters of the official history of the Ordnance Survey, and as a leading member of the Charles Close Society for the study of OS maps.
Ian worked to help people understand that there is more to maps than the lines on the page – especially with the move towards computerised map indexes and digital cartography. He made the interactive presentation Map as Artefact, in which he encouraged the audience to understand how varied maps could be, and how important information could be written on the back, as well as printed on the front.Ian worked to help people understand that there is more to maps than the lines on the page – especially with the move towards computerised map indexes and digital cartography. He made the interactive presentation Map as Artefact, in which he encouraged the audience to understand how varied maps could be, and how important information could be written on the back, as well as printed on the front.
The fourth child of the five children of Stephen Mumford, a butler, and Adelaide (nee Chudley), a seamstress and housekeeper, Ian was brought up in North Row Buildings, Mayfair, and won a scholarship to Latymer upper school in Hammersmith, where he discovered a passion for geography from the educationist Eric Briault.The fourth child of the five children of Stephen Mumford, a butler, and Adelaide (nee Chudley), a seamstress and housekeeper, Ian was brought up in North Row Buildings, Mayfair, and won a scholarship to Latymer upper school in Hammersmith, where he discovered a passion for geography from the educationist Eric Briault.
After military service as a captain in the Royal Artillery in Burma and India, Ian returned to the UK and married Joyce (nee Cooper), who was a parliamentary transcriber for Hansard until her retirement in 1984. Ian worked in the map room at the Royal Geographical Society, where he managed the reconnaissance photographs for Edmund Hillary’s successful ascent of Everest, then moved to the Royal School of Military Survey as an assistant map curator. Twenty-five years later, he spent four years as British liaison officer attached to the Defense Mapping Agency in Washington. After military service as a captain in the Royal Artillery in Burma and India, Ian returned to the UK and married Joyce (nee Cooper), who was a parliamentary transcriber for Hansard until her retirement in 1984. Ian worked in the map room at the Royal Geographical Society, where he managed the reconnaissance photographs for Edmund Hillary’s successful ascent of Everest, then moved to Military Survey as an assistant map curator. Twenty-five years later, he spent four years as British liaison officer attached to the Defense Mapping Agency in Washington.
Friends recall the depth and breadth of Ian’s knowledge and his willingness to share it with others. He was recognised for his contributions to the US Board on Geographic Names, which standardises place names, the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the US Geological Survey. He was made an honorary fellow of the British Cartographic Society for his outstanding service, and received the society’s medal in 2002.Friends recall the depth and breadth of Ian’s knowledge and his willingness to share it with others. He was recognised for his contributions to the US Board on Geographic Names, which standardises place names, the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, and the US Geological Survey. He was made an honorary fellow of the British Cartographic Society for his outstanding service, and received the society’s medal in 2002.
In his 70s Ian undertook a doctoral thesis on the development of photolithography in mapping, with particular focus on the OS.In his 70s Ian undertook a doctoral thesis on the development of photolithography in mapping, with particular focus on the OS.
Joyce died earlier this year. Ian is survived by his children, Liz, Julia and me, by his grandson, Thomas, and by his brother, Alan.Joyce died earlier this year. Ian is survived by his children, Liz, Julia and me, by his grandson, Thomas, and by his brother, Alan.