Horace Hockley
Major Horace Hockley, Founder President of the Institute of Scientific and
Technical Communicators, started his engineering career at Imperial College,
London where he was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Science.
During the First World War, he was an observer/navigator with the Royal Flying
Corps. In the 1930s his engineering career turned towards technical communication,
an area of the profession he continued until his retirement in 1976.
He was instrumental in the grouping of the Presentation of Technical Information
(debating) Group, the Institute of Technical Publicity and Publications, and
the Institute of Technical Authors and Illustrators into one body, the Institute
of Scientific and Technical Communicators. He became the first President in
July 1972.
Major Hockley realised the importance of establishing standards of education
and professionalism in technical communication, and in 1967 he was awarded an
OBE in recognition of his services to technical communication. He had a passion
to understand and be understood, a dedication to standards, and a belief that
education also raises understanding and standards together.
He retired from active work in 1976 and went to live in Spain, where he later
died. Mrs Hockley then returned to England.
The Institute will always remember him with deep affection. |
