My father, Philip Kraven, who has died aged 92, was an information technology specialist who worked for two big oil companies – Britoil and BP – developing and managing their computer software.
Philip had begun in oil exploration as a consultant geophysicist for Seismograph Service Ltd in the late 1950s. He soon switched over to working on IT during the early days of computers, initially using his knowledge of exploration techniques to develop data processing and programming systems that would support geophysical investigations.
When he arrived at Britoil in 1978, he focused on providing IT systems to support the general management of the company, a specialism he took to BP in 1986, working there until retirement in 1991.
He was born in London, the eldest of three brothers, to Golda (nee Rasch), a comptometer operator, and Sydney Krevenky, a diamond setter, who later changed the family name to Kraven. During the second world war Philip spent a number of happy years as an evacuee at a farm in Barley, Hertfordshire. Intelligent and curious, he later attended William Ellis grammar school in Highgate, north London, before doing his national service as a navigator in the RAF (1952-54) and then studying chemistry, geology and maths at University College London (1954-57).
He met Deena Kriven, a civil servant, in London, and they married in Highgate in 1964. Then they moved to Bromley in Kent, where they brought up my brother, Nicholas, and me, before settling in Glasgow in 1978.
Philip’s work in the oil industry took him to Nigeria and Pakistan, as well as most parts of the UK. He and Deena enjoyed travelling, especially to the national parks of the US, and they also loved exploring the Scottish countryside. Philip had a special affection for Culzean Castle, in South Ayrshire, where as a family we enjoyed numerous (often damp and chilly) picnics and adventures on the beach. On his travels and at home he was an enthusiastic and talented photographer who developed his own photos for many years, passing on his skills to his children.
A committed figure in the Jewish life of Glasgow and beyond, Philip had been a founding member of the Bromley Reform Synagogue, and was active in the running of the Glasgow New Synagogue. He was made a life president there, and received an award from the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council for his outstanding contribution to the Jewish community.
A kind, thoughtful and witty man, he always had time to chat to everyone he met, and was a real gentleman.
Philip is survived by Deena, Nicholas and me, three grandchildren, Isaac, Esther and Reuben, two great-granddaughters, Delilah and Valentina, and his brothers, Ivan and Brian.
