On Monday 11^th August 1980, a young Clifford Rice began what would become a lifelong career in the mining industry when he started work for South Crofty Mine, then run by St Piran Ltd.

Throughout his tenure there, the mine was bought by Charter Consolidated, and Clifford transferred to the commercial laboratory in Wilson Way, Camborne (pictured in 1985) where he worked until 1986 when the mine was taken over by RTZ, who also owned Wheal Jane Mine in Baldhu. Clifford then transferred to Wheal Jane where he became Smelter Exchange Chemist, before becoming Chief Chemist in 1991 at the age of 29, based at the Wheal Jane processing plant and responsible for all analytical services for both mines.

Following the final closure of operations at both South Crofty and Wheal Jane in 1998, Clifford continued operating the laboratory at Wheal Jane as a commercial business offering its services and experience to the global mining world, which included spells working as a consultant in India, Spain and Greece. During this time, he was also responsible for ensuring the environmental clean-up of the two mining sites, including chemical disposal, and as radiation protection officer organising the safe disposal of radioactive sources such as density gauges.

Clifford joined the Wheal Jane Group as Laboratory Manager, progressing to become a Director of the company in 2008. During this time, he was responsible for the successful development of the Wheal Jane Laboratory business into what is now a highly sought-after service to clients the world over. Wheal Jane Laboratory achieved the highest possible UKAS 17025 accreditation in 2015, and during a visit to Wheal Jane that year by HRH the Duke of Kent, Clifford was able to show the Duke many aspects of the laboratory’s work.

Under Clifford’s guidance, the laboratory has undertaken not only mineral analysis for clients and projects around the world, but also a variety of rather more diverse projects, most notably the production of high-purity Cornish tin for incorporation into the Olympic bronze medals for the 2012 Games in London. He was also in charge of smelting the first commercially mined gold from Scotland for ScotsGold Cononish mine in 2017. Most recently, Clifford oversaw the production of the last tin ingots to be smelted in Cornish mining history and in the process raised thousands of pounds for the Children’s Hospice South West.

Now, 45 years after his first day on the job, Clifford’s wealth of knowledge and experience makes him a veteran of the mining industry he still serves after nearly half a century. We thank him for his invaluable contribution and congratulate him on achieving this remarkable milestone.