Obituary – Dr John Vincent Bramley FRSA FIMMM
Dr John Bramley was President of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy 1993-94 which became part of IOM3 in 2002.
4 July 1935 - 22 June 2026
John died peacefully on 22 June following a short illness. He was married firstly to Rosalind and secondly to Elizabeth, both of whom predeceased him. Father of Katharine, Robert and Matthew, and grandfather to Daniel, Alex, Loïc, Annabel and Hamish. There was a short service on 7 July at Easthampstead Park Crematorium.
He was born in Nottingham on 4 July 1935. After gaining a PhD in mineral processing at the Royal School of Mines (RSM), he spent his entire working career with Laporte Industries, primarily with their minerals interests, and with a period heading up R&D at Widnes. For many years, he was at Glebe Mines in the Peak District, including as General Manager from 1984 until his retirement in 1995. He was highly regarded by employees as an inspirational and caring boss – and was largely responsible for obtaining the planning permissions from the National Park authorities for a new flotation tailings disposal facility at Blakedon Hollow in 1975, and a new underground mining operation at Milldam, adjacent to the village of Great Hucklow, in 1985.
The new tailings facility application was challenged by conservation groups and was subject to a full public enquiry – with permission eventually granted with numerous commitments to re-vegetation and environmental improvements of the earlier dams. John established research into soil and seed mixes in conjunction with Liverpool University. This resulted in enhanced vegetation, willow plantations to absorb high moisture, and copious orchids! Bird hides were subsequently installed, and the area became a world-renowned site, with cattle and sheep grazing on the land.
John was able to see the Milldam project through from concept to planning, commissioning and production. Permission imposed 52 separate conditions due to the close proximity to the village – including traffic access, landscaping to conceal the mine compound, and to minimise noise levels for households. He also established a company liaison committee with the village residents and parish council.
He had various roles in MIRO (Mineral Industry Research Organisation) and MAUK (Mining Association of the UK) where he was also President for a period. He had a great interest in music and was in the Imperial College chorus along with Rosalind and later in local operatic societies.
Following his retirement, he was the founder trustee of Ecton Mine Educational Trust (EMET) and Chair from 1997 to 2004, and continued to maintain an active interest. The family has decided this is their preferred charity for any donations, which will go towards preserving and improving the Clayton Mine portal access; a plaque will be erected there in John’s memory.
The Trust has kindly provided the following information on how to donate:
