Geoff Hockney, ITS Workstation Services Officer, died on 10 January following a long illness.
Geoff started at Sussex in 1990, retiring in 2007 at the age of 65. Initially he worked in the Institute of Continuing and Professional Education (ICAPE) as IT technician, then in IT Services. During the Arts restructuring Geoff played a key role in the evolution of local computing to IT Services.
For 10 years, Geoff also provided technical assistance on the SmithKline Beecham Masterclasses in Science and Technology, enriching the activities for colleagues and pupils alike. He was a member of the Steering Group and of its prestigious Executive Committee.
Geoff will always be remembered affectionately. He was kind, incredibly supportive, very knowledgeable and always willing to ‘have a go’, often beyond the call of duty. We miss Geoff’s laughter and his taunts as we walked past his office. He was a first-class chap.
His strength showed through in his constant cheerfulness, even while in significant discomfort from the many drug trials he took part in to help manage his cancer. He used to say, “It may not help me - but wouldn’t it be great if what I’m doing helped others?”
Geoff’s passion was flying and his retirement gift from ITS colleagues was a flying lesson out of Shoreham Airport. He entered into the spirit of things when we dressed him up like Russ Abbot’s famous caricature of a World War 1 pilot. He said afterwards, “This is the best day of my life”.
Until the beginning of March the ITS Enquiries desk in Engineering 1 will accept individual donations to St Wilfred’s Hospice in Seaford.
For a longer version of this obituary, see the ITS newsletter.
Paul Allpress, Workstation Support Services Manager (Arts)