Michael John Packman (1953 – 2024)
Dedicated professional hydrogeologist with an accomplished career at Southern Water
Mike Packman (Image courtesy of Rob Sage)
Mike Packman was a well-respected hydrogeologist specialising in the Chalk of Southeast England. Having spent 48 years with Southern Water, he had a rigorous, technical evidence-based approach. Mike shared his broad knowledge freely throughout his career and was very supportive of his staff. Having only recently retired, he passed away suddenly from a heart attack on the 13 February 2024, a shock to his family and many friends.
Southern Water
Born in Reading in 1953, Mike regularly moved around the country with his parents. Mike went on to study a BSc in Geography and Geology at the University of Bristol from 1971 to 1974 and graduated with an Upper Second. He was elected as a Fellow of the Geological Society in 1976.
Mike joined Southern Water Authority as an Assistant Hydrogeologist in 1975, developing boreholes to augment flows in the River Itchen; licensing groundwater abstractions; assessing landfill applications; establishing groundwater monitoring networks; and investigating pollution issues. He contributed to the Section 24 Survey for the 1973 Water Act and the British Geological Survey’s hydrogeological map of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. In 1980, he was promoted to Senior Hydrogeologist and became a corporate member of the Institution of Geologists, gaining Chartered status in 1990. In 1983, he moved to the Isle of Wight as a Water Resources Manager. He oversaw the installation of a freshwater pipeline under the Solent to augment the island’s water resources and investigated the Lower Greensand of the Eastern Yar catchment.
In March 1989, Mike was moved to Southern Science, a wholly owned subsidiary of the newly privatised Southern Water. There, he continued to work on projects for Southern Water, including deployable output assessments, pollution investigations, and the impact of HS1 on groundwater. He also worked for the Environment Agency, developing their source protection zone methodology.
Mike was a cheerful, loyal, caring, gregarious, gentle giant and a dedicated family man
In 1996, Mike rejoined Southern Water as Chief Hydrogeologist, a position he held until retirement in 2023. He contributed to the development of company water resource management plans and oversaw the development of regional groundwater models, liaising with the Environment Agency and other interested parties.
Other activities
Throughout his career, Mike was closely involved with university research; he lectured undergraduate students and supervised PhD students at the University of Portsmouth. He became an editor and, later, Chair of the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, as well as contributing to publications himself. In 2003, he was a founding member of the re-vamped UK Groundwater Forum.
At a personal level, Mike was a cheerful, loyal, caring, gregarious, gentle giant and a dedicated family man who loved animals, walking, travelling, steam trains, and beer. Sadly, in 2015, his wife suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. This was a tremendous shock to Mike and his retirement plans were put on hold while he dealt with it. Mike leaves behind three children, three grandchildren, and many friends and colleagues who will miss him.
By Robert Sage with thanks to Mike’s children and close friend, Steve Bennett
