Kenneth Mellanby
[Called 'Ken']. 1908-1993. Entomologist, scientific administrator and writer. Author of Pesticides and Pollution (1967), The Mole (1971) and Farming and WIldlife (1981), an editor of the New Naturalist library 1971-86.
Son of a professor, read natural sciences at London University and obtained doctorate at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (1933). Began career as a medical entomologist at the London School 1933-45, investigated causes and cure for scabies with the help of a band of colunteers in Sheffield. Spent latter part of war in Burma and New Guinea investigating transmission and control of scrub typhys.
Resumed academic career as Reader in Medical Entomology at London University, then as first principal of University College, Ibadan in Nigeria 1947-53, for which received CBE (1954). Head of Entomology, Rothamsted 1955-61, then first director of Monks Wood experimental station, 1961-75, in both roles warning of unwanted side-effects of persistent pollutants, especially pesticides, and advocating biological methods of pest control.
Mistrusted the coom-sayers of the Green movement, but forcefully argued for more sustainable farming; in his view environmental problems stemmed from inefficencies of livestock farming. If we ate less meat, Britain could both feed itself and have more wildlife. In gentler strain, studied moles and wrote a children's story about them (Talpa: The Story of the Mole). A man of 'sharp and capricious wit', also described as 'the extreme English moderate'. 'Calm, courteous and quizzical', listed Who's Who hobby as 'austere living'.
