William Francis (civil engineer)
British civil engineer (1926–2025)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir Horace William Alexander Francis CBE FREng[1] (31 August 1926 – 27 September 2025) was a British civil engineer.
31 August 1926
Sir William Francis | |
|---|---|
| Born | Horace William Alexander Francis 31 August 1926 Clydebank, Scotland |
| Died | 27 September 2025 (aged 99) |
| Spouse | Gwendoline Maud Dorricott |
| Parent(s) | Horace Fairie Francis & Jane McMinn Murray |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Civil |
| Institutions | Institution of Civil Engineers (president) |
Background
Francis was born in Clydebank, Scotland on 31 August 1926 to Horace Fairie Francis and Jane McMinn Murray.[2] He studied at Glasgow's Royal Technical College, which is now part of Strathclyde University.[3][4] He married, in 1949, Gwendoline Maud Dorricott and had two sons and two daughters.[2] Francis died on 27 September 2025, at the age of 99. His funeral took place at Emstrey Crematorium, Shrewsbury, on 4 November 2025.[5]
Career
Francis worked on many construction projects in the United Kingdom and abroad including manufacturing facilities, bridges, power stations and offshore structures.[6] He spent 25 years working with the engineering contractor Tarmac plc and was the company's chief operating officer and vice-chairman.[6] Francis also served as executive director of construction for the Trafalgar House conglomerate and as non-executive director of its oil and gas interests.[6]
He worked as a government advisor for approximately 30 years, serving on several advisory boards such as the British Overseas Trade Board and the Export Credit Guarantee Department. Francis also worked as a director of the British Railways Board between 1994 and 1997 and as chairman of the Black Country Development Corporation.[2][6]
On 1 November 1982, Francis was appointed major in the British Army's Engineer and Railway Staff Corps, an invitation-only, unpaid unit of 60 engineering and logistics professionals that provide advice to the British armed forces on specialist and technical matters.[7][8][9] He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 8 July 1986 and became supernumerary to the unit on 17 August 1992.[10][11]
Later life
Francis worked as director of Peakbeam Ltd and Longden Properties.[12] He was a principal partner in Security Composites Limited, a thermoplastic manufacturer based in Shrewsbury, where he developed a thermoplastic-based formwork for in-situ concrete works.[13]
Francis was an Honorary Life Vice-President of the Lighthouse Club, a national charity that provides for the families of construction workers killed or injured at work. He was a member for over 40 years and served as president from 1990–5 and helped the club to introduce a corporate membership grade.[14]
Honours
Francis was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1976 and was knighted on 25 July 1989 in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.[15]
He was awarded two honorary doctorates, an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) from the University of Strathclyde in 1988, and an honorary Doctor of Science (DSc) from Aston University in 1990.[2][6][16]
Francis was a Fellow[1] of the Royal Academy of Engineering[1] and of the Institution of Civil Engineers and served as president of the latter between November 1987 and November 1988.[12][14][17]
He was involved with the Civil Engineers Club, a social organisation for members of his profession, and awarded their inaugural Thomas Telford Trophy for the winner of the golf competition at the Wentworth Club in 1986.[18] He was awarded the 1991 Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation Institution Award for excellence within the transportation profession.[19]