Edith and Cyril Berkeley

Edith Berkeley, née Dunington, biologist (b at Tulbagh, S Africa 6 Sept 1875; d at Nanaimo, BC 25 Feb 1963) and Cyril, chemist (b at London, Eng 2 Dec 1878; d at Nanaimo, BC, 25 Aug 1973). Edith and Cyril met as undergraduates at London University, married in 1902, and went to Bihar, India, where Cyril studied the culture and processing of indigo. Moving in 1914 to BC, they farmed for 2 years near Vernon; both taught at the new University of British Columbia, and in 1919 settled at the Nanaimo Biological Station.

Following Edith's lead, they became world authorities on the classification of marine polychaete worms and deeply respected members of the station's scientific community. In recognition of their achievements Cyril was granted an LLD by the University of Victoria in 1968. Both were enthusiastic gardeners, collecting rhododendron species and developing new species of irises.