Steve Pryor is a long-standing member of the Institute of Mine Surveyors of South Africa.

Recently while enjoying afternoon tea at Steve’s home, Prof. Fred Cawood, IMSSA’s current President and Hennie Grobler, Chairman of the IMSSA Education Committee sat chatting about the past and about Steve’s various activities through the years within the Mine Survey Profession.

What was notably evident was Steve’s sharp mind, the wealth of information, experience and wisdom that he has gained through the years and the interest that he still has in the mine surveying profession today.

Whilst chatting about Steve’s experiences which ranged from his early years as a young man in the

I have recently come to realise that I have been building up “Treasures on Earth” instead of applying my gains to helping others less fortunate than myself.  I therefore decided to plough back some of my savings, and as Education is a worthy cause in need of support, the Institute seemed a good place to start.

As I worked under Clare Storrar for several years, and was also a personal friend of his it will give me much pleasure to contribute to the updating and reprinting of his book “South African Mine Valuation”- Steve Pryor

Centre:  Steve Pryor                          

Right: Fred Cawood            

Left: Hennie Grobler

 

Royal Navy at Simonstown to his  years as a Mine Surveyor, he chuckled with amusement at the recollections of how, when assisting Mr Clare Storrar in the proof reading of the original South African Mine Valuation, he took Mr Storrar to task  about his use of overly “erudite” language - insisting that Surveyors were just ordinary and basic chaps who probably would not appreciate the “fancy” manner in which the book was written.

Steve mentioned that he had been the Editor and designer of the IMSSA Journal for a number of years and recalled how difficult it was in his day to obtain material for publication.  It seems that old habits die hard because it is still a problem today.

Steve’s passion to assist others in the mining community has led him to the decision to donate a very generous amount towards updating South African Mine Valuation and to give back to the discipline in which he spent his life.

Fred Cawood explained that the copyright to the book was already transferred from the Chamber of Mines to the IMSSA.  The new edition would be a combination of the original material and new and current content pertinent knowledge required for mine valuation professionals today. 

This task requires the book to be re-typed, proof-read and the new additions compiled by qualified and experienced experts in their fields before being compiled into a new book. This, we know from experience, is a very lengthy process.

It is hoped that the new edition would be ready within the next three to four years and with Steve’s generous donation, the Institute will be in a position to launch the procedure with immediate effect.

The Institute of Mine Surveyors would like to thank Mr Steve Pryor for his wonderful gesture towards the education of not only Mine Surveyors, but all in the Mining discipline. 

The book remains one of the classic mine valuation text books and is still widely referred to and used in training and everyday industry practice.

Mr Steve Pryor will be recognised for his contribution in the new edition of South African Mine Valuation.

STEVE PRYOR - Honorary Life Member and the new edition of South African Mine Valuation  -  BY Clare storrar