Professor Sir John Horlock (Honorary Fellow) 1928-2015

Professor Sir John Horlock, FRS, Former Fellow and Honorary Fellow of St John’s College, has died at the age of 87.

Born in Middlesex in 1928, and educated at Latymer’s School, Edmonton, John Horlock came up to St John’s in 1946 as an undergraduate in Mechanical Sciences. He gained a First in his BA in 1949 and worked briefly for Rolls-Royce before returning to the College for his PhD, which he completed in 1955. He became a Research Fellow in 1954 and a Lecturer in Engineering in 1956.

In 1958, he left Cambridge to become Harrison Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Liverpool University and returned to Cambridge as Professor of Engineering and Fellow of St John’s in 1967. In both positions, he instituted educational reforms to improve research and teaching in his Department. Professor Horlock’s work on gas turbines and jet engines made him a leading figure in a field which revolutionised transport across the world.

In 1974, Professor Horlock became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Salford, a new University which made great progress under his leadership. In 1981, he moved to the Open University, where he was deeply committed to strengthening the teaching of science and engineering. As well as campaigning against government spending cuts to education, Professor Horlock also expanded the University by introducing a taught Masters programme and overseeing the opening of the Open University Business School.

The Horlock Building on the Open University’s Walton Hall campus was named in his honour, and the Association of Open University Graduates established the John Horlock Award for Science in 1991.

Following his retirement from the OU, Professor Horlock was appointed Vice-President and Treasurer of the Royal Society, and received a knighthood in 1996 for his services to science, engineering and education.

Professor Sir John Horlock died on 22 May 2015, aged 87. He is survived by his widow, Lady Sheila Horlock, and their three children.