William Francis

Sir Horace William Alexander Francis CBE FREng (31 August 1926 – 27 September 2025) was a British civil engineer.

Background Francis was born in Clydebank, Scotland on 31 August 1926 to Horace Fairie Francis and Jane McMinn Murray. He studied at Glasgow's Royal Technical College, which is now part of Strathclyde University. He married, in 1949, Gwendoline Maud Dorricott and had two sons and two daughters.

Career Francis worked on many construction projects in the United Kingdom and abroad including manufacturing facilities, bridges, power stations and offshore structures. He spent 25 years working with the engineering contractor Tarmac plc and was the company's chief operating officer and vice-chairman. He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 8 July 1986 and became supernumerary to the unit on 17 August 1992.

Later life Francis worked as director of Peakbeam Ltd and Longden Properties. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Francis was a Fellow

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. He was awarded the 1991 Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation Institution Award for excellence within the transportation profession.