Drillers – a breed apart : Ken Gibbs

by Ken Gibbs

Drillers, like anthropologists, are a breed apart.

For those old enough to remember Martin Beyer who headed UNICEF’s Water and Sanitation Sector in New York in the 1980s, he certainly felt that way which was odd because he was a geologist himself, but with a difference.  He spoke 11 languages and wrote 8 of them and could expound on many different subjects like a polymath.

He also suffered a character trait which the more serious staff found rather whimsical.  He had a wonderful sense of humour.  At one stage, we were chatting about geologists and drillers and he made some observations which might, in today’s terms, be viewed as politically incorrect.  I had to agree with him.

I wrote a short ‘verse’ to celebrate our discussion and sent it to him.  He immediately put it on the wall in his room at UNICEF where it remained until the day he left the organisation.

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Mr Log joined UNICEF In 1984

All he talks about is 'Drill bits' and 'The Core'

Mr Log should bore his well and leave us well alone

Or a monumental bore is how he'll end up known.

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Ken Gibbs can be contacted via kengibbs1941@gmail.com

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