1957-2011

Dr. David Neale passed away on June 7 2011. David was a hydrographic surveyor by profession and a member of the Institute of Surveyors of Trinidad and Tobago. He was one of those nominated by the ISTT to serve on the Land Survey Board of Trinidad and Tobago for the 3 year period beginning 2009 and performed energetically in that position. He also held several other professional posts in FIG and RICS including Chairman of RICS Caribbean (2009-2011) and member of the FIG/IHO/ICA International Board on Standards of Competence for Hydrographic Surveyors and Nautical Cartographers (IBSC). He was a part-time lecturer in Hydrography in the Department of Geomatics Engineering and Land Management of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine. He leaves to mourn his wife, Vanessa and son, Geoffrey. The ISTT is deeply saddened at his passing.

In his early years David went to St. Benedict’s College and then to UWI Extra Mural for A levels. He then pursued the Engineering Surveying Diploma at John Donaldson Technical Institute from 1974-1977 part-time. His classmates included John De Sormeaux, Kenneth Mondul and Ainsley Charles. He worked at Mootilal Moonan as a trainee surveyor from 1974- 75, then at the Ministry of Works and Transport, Drainage Division as an Engineering Assistant from 1975- 1977. He then moved to PLIPDECO as an Engineering Technician from 1977-1981. The practical experience obtained at PLIPDECO assisted him greatly in his later years as a coastal land use expert.

David pursued his diploma in surveying at the Technical University, Munich from 1981-1983. For this he had saved his money, taken no-pay leave from PLIPDECO, and left to pursue his dream of becoming a professional. He returned to PLIPDECO and worked from 1983 -1985. Then in 1985 he moved to the Port Authority becoming the Port Surveyor, a post he held till 1991. He left to join the IMA in 1991,as a Hydrographer/ Oceanographer, as it was the only place where he could acquire the desired skills and experience. Along the way he became a PADI Certified Diver in 1981. He did a Post Grad Diploma in Hydrography at the University of Plymouth in 1990-1991. He also completed a Diploma in Hydrography at the US Naval Oceanographic School.

He became a RICS Chartered Surveyor in 1994 and a Fellow in January 2007. He was a member of the initial MSc Planning class in 1995 graduating in 1998. In February 1997 he left IMA and opened his own Hydrographic surveying company with his Welsh colleague and fellow RICS Chartered surveyor, Richard Cattermole. They soon became Registered hydrographic surveyors in Trinidad and Tobago and their firm flourished. In the late 90s David became involved in FIG and served on that body in several capacities. He also became a RICS Assessor and became Chair of RICS Caribbean board in 2009.

David was also an ardent venture scout. David gave back to the profession by actively employing graduates in his firm and giving them tremendous experience and opportunities. David's firm also sponsored prizes for the UWI Department of Surveying and Land Information’s top hydrographic surveying students. His defining academic legacy is his work in producing a coastal land use and reclamation policy in the late 90s. At the time of his passing he was considered to be one of the experts in the field of coastal zone management. David achieved his PhD in 2010 after several years of trying to balance his busy work, family and professional pursuits and it was really the culmination of a career spent acquiring a quite unique skill set. He was instrumental in reinvigorating the Society of Planners and was the key mover in publishing their journal conducting several interviews with senior planning professionals for posterity purposes. Struck down at the pinnacle of his life David is gone from this world but his legacy will always remain with those of us left behind.