Alan SIBBIT

I was very sorry to hear from Graham Spooner that Alan had died. I cannot remember when I last saw him but it was relatively recently and he was well at that time although obviously aware of his diagnosis. We had not seen much of each other since leaving Cambridge apart form a legendary ski holiday in Val d'Isere in 1981 (Les Lores - Tiger Tours)

However, our mutual love of climbing had brought us close at St Johns - initially at Cambridge College "night climbing" and subsequently on our first ever trip to the Alps in 1972 in our first long vac. We had interviewed and got a grant from Trinity to support our trip and although neither of us really knew what we were doing, we survived out expedition to the Bernese Oberland. We summited the Monch, Jungfrau and Wetterhorn and nearly got to the top of the Eiger...a wonderful trip.

RIP Alan and many condolences to all family and friends. I am sorry I could not have been there for the funeral and apologies for my late posting

Alastair Miller St John's 1071-74

Goodbye Alan, you made everyone feel special.

MOSCOW 2005-2007, such a privilege and a joy to spend time with you professionally and socially.

Will always remember our dinner together at Peppone in Bordeaux during Alliance 2019. Our deepest condolences to Pascale and family.

So much has been written about Alan. It is all true. (Except Henry calling him the quintessential Englishman – he was Scots through and through, not Sassenach at all.)

I have known Alan for almost 50 years. We have looked at logs, consumed wine, malt whisky…, done crazy things, talked of friends, family, desires, ambitions, past events… in so many places at so many opportunities.

I have followed Alan's medical progress closely with him since 2018 in Chester, somehow always he managed to retain his quirky sense of humour through some very tough moments.

A story.

Sometime in the early 1980s at one of the Interpretation Symposia in June in SDR Ridgefield, the three intrepid Scots were in attendance – Alan, Al Winchester & myself. I believe we all had papers to present at the Symposium. On one of the afternoons, the Ridgefield Hash was organized for SDR and outside Hashers, including of course all the visitor Hashers.

All three of us had also been invited to dinner in a classy French restaurant somewhere in the forest outside Ridgefield, by Bill Murphy, Head of the Interpretation Department, with several Interpretation scientists. So we decided there was plenty time to do both events.

After the Hash, the Circle went on for quite a while, so the three of us continued drinking several beers. We finally escaped, back to the hotel change, and get to the restaurant.

Regrettably, the invitation was for 7pm. We arrived at almost 9pm. Oops. As we tried to enter the impressive door of the restaurant, a French waiter came and told us they were not accepting any more diners. I forgot to mention – all three of us are fluent in French. So we started taking at high speed in colloquial French, complaining loudly "Mais, c'est impossible! Nous sommes invités par un grand chef du labo de Schlumberger, un de vis plus importance clients!" And a lot more, which much hand-waving and French expletives.

We were allowed in. Bill and the other guests (I recall Bill Kenyon, Dave Johnson were there, several others…) warmly welcomed us despite the late hour. Then the next problem – the waiter informed us mournfully "Regrettablement messieurs, la cuisine eat fermée!" More loud French and much hand-waving. So a huge platter of charcuterie, fromages, pains… arrived, accompanied by copious amounts of good Bordeaux.

Honour was preserved.

This is some of what the delightful company of Alan brought into so many peoples' lives! I miss him hugely.

My deepest condolences to Pascale, Catriona & Ian.

Gordon

I would like to express my deepest condolences to his family. My thoughts are with them as I remember a remarkable colleague whose calm, kindness, and generosity touched everyone around him. A very experienced petrophysicist, he shared his expertise with humility and making complex things look very simple — the kind of person anyone would be proud to have as a friend.

He was passionate about his work, about France, and about beautiful cars. Many of us in MpTC will always remember him arriving at the Montpellier office in his elegant Morgan, a perfect reflection of his character.

He leaves behind a legacy of professionalism, warmth, and humanity. He will be deeply missed.

I shared rooms with Alan at St. John’s, Cambridge for two years.
Whilst he was always much more serious about his studies than I, he always found time to socialise , and was a witty warm companion with a ready smile at any social event.
His love of ad hoc mountaineering got the better of him at my stag party in Exeter. He had shinned up a lamppost just as a local member of the constabulary appeared on the scene. On being instructed to descend, he jumped off the lamppost onto the pavement below.
He appeared at the wedding the next day with his fractured wrist encased in plaster of Paris.
His love of mountaineering remained unchanged.

It is with great sadness we heard of Alan’s death. Assigned to SCAFE at the turn of the century, I had the privilege of working with Alan for 3 years in Houston. His quiet demeanour went hand in hand with a great intellect and I learned much from him. We got to know his family well during this time and send our thoughts and condolences to Pascale, Ian and Catriona. We remained in touch with Alan, he had visited us in our home in Cambridge when attending college reunions and we had planned to meet in the new year. He will be much missed.

Chris and Germaine.

I was deeply sad to hear that Alan had passed away. Even if I only got to know Alan a few years ago, he made a deep and lasting impression. His professionalism was only exceeded by his warmth and compassion.
I will miss him in my work and in my private life.
Rest in peace.
My condolences to the family.

Celebrating the incredible life of Alan SIBBIT, who will forever be in your heart and memories. My deepest condolences to the family and friends. Your legacy will remain.

Le souvenir d’Alan restera gravé dans la mémoire collective de la communauté pétrophysique chez Schlumberger. Sa contribution technique est indéniable, mais ce qui a touché chacun de ceux qui ont travaillé avec lui sont sa gentillesse et sa patience. Il avait le temps pour chacun et il partageait généreusement ses connaissances avec tout le monde. Je suis privilégiée d’avoir fait sa connaissance et de pouvoir le prendre comme exemple. Mes sincères condoléances à sa famille et ses amis.