Abstract
BY the death of Dr. John Ball, science has lost a man of outstanding character and calibre, whose experience and contributions ranged over a wide field. His career was marked by hard work, enthusiasm, an inquiring and penetrating mind, a perception of essentials, with bold ideas and restless vigour. John Ball loved a problem and was relentless in pursuing it. New evidence and new methods usually intrigued him, though at times he seemed obdurate before accepting them. Many who read this obituary will remember with affection the breathless discussions in Egypt, London, and elsewhere, in which his partial deafness was overcome by cheerful enthusiasm, his electric device, and the seemingly endless supply of new batteries. He loved a meeting of those who shared common interests, such as the Zerzura Club of desert travellers, and the conversation on these occasions remained practical, technical, constructive; there was always something worth learning. He served in Egypt for forty–four years, and remained there during the present War; to this fact possibly his recent death in his seventieth year may be attributed.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
SANDFORD, K. Dr. John Ball. Nature 148, 526 (1941). https://doi.org/10.1038/148526a0
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/148526a0