Very sad news from Cornwall, that Peter Hackett died peacefully after a few days illness on Monday 24th September at Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro.
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| Speaking at the CSM Annual Dinner, 2021 |
Peter was the Principal of the Camborne School of Mines (CSM) from 1970 to 1994 and was President of the Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (IMM) from 1989-90.
No one did more to make CSM a modern Institution than did Dr. Peter Hackett, whose legacy will be modern degree courses and post-graduate research programmes, as well as the successful association with the University of Exeter.
For most of my stint at CSM (1974-1996) he was Principal and I have a lot to thank him for, as he encouraged my travels around the world to conferences and visiting lectureships.
After his retirement we caught up, fairly infrequently, at CSM events, and most memorably last November when he celebrated his 90th birthday with staff and students who were at CSM during his tenure.
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| Bob Pine (Rock Mechanics and Director from 2002-2008), Sally Pine, Barry Wills (Mineral Processing), Barbara Wills, Carol Richards (CSM Associates Secretary 1996-1999), Peter Hackett, Nick Eastwood (ACSM 1974), Steve Pendray (Mineral Analysis), Lesley Atkinson (Geology and Museum Curator), Mary Shepherd (CSMA Secretary 1999-2005) and Pete Shepherd (ACSM 1967) |
Our sincere condolences to Peter's family. The funeral will be held at Camborne Crematorium at 3pm on Wednesday 9th October and will be followed by a Wake at The Old Quay House, Griggs Quay, Hayle, TR27 6JG. To help with planning and catering, please contact cathie.clarke@gmail.com if you will be attending the funeral and/or the wake, no later than 1st October if possible. Peter made an express wish for family flowers only. If you would like to make a charitable donation, his favourite charity was the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI).
I am sure that many of you will have memories of Peter, and I invite you to share them here.
Sad news, he did so much for change during his time at CSM.
ReplyDeleteIt was my privilege & pleasure to have known Peter since 1977 when I started at CSM with a memorable 'materials' lecture on day one - "Bluetack" & strain rate dependent properties, I still quote it to this day. Peter sponsored my IMM membership, was my mentor during my MPhil & later sponsored my FIMMM application. I crewed for Peter during his sailing days and was able to provide a little engineering support for his other passion of car renovation. To say he left an indelible mark on my personal & profession life would be gross understatement. Rest easy Peter & thank you.
ReplyDeleteVery sad news and please express my sincere condolences to his family and friends. Peter was the Principal of CSM when I was there (1982 - 1985) and set a very strong example for all students. Earlier this year I was privileged that Peter attended a site visit to our Trelavour Lithium Project. He was absolutely pin-sharp and asked excellent questions - even at the age of 90! A very impressive and very honourable man, and an example to all from CSM. RIP Peter.
ReplyDeletePeter was responsible for employing me as a Lecturer in Mathematics at CSM in the mid 80s and I worked with him when he was Principal for many years. He therefore did so much for my career at CSM and supported sporting activities there including cricket and squash, in which I was heavily involved. I have very fond memories of the friendly working and social environment that he fostered. My wife Karen and I socialised with him and Esme at many CSM functions over the years. Karen also used to see him regularly in his retirement on his early morning cycle rides near Tehidy while she was cycling to work and was always impressed by his level of fitness in his later years. We both feel that he really prioritised and nurtured CSM both whilst as Principal and post retirement by regularly attending functions and helping to maintain its traditions and culture. He will therefore be sadly missed as a major figure in the history of CSM.
ReplyDeleteSuch very sad news to hear. Peter was Principal during for the first few years at my time at CSM. Such a warm and friendly man who always had time for students. When I applied for my first job I had the luck to be interviewed by Cathie, his daughter and Peter put in a good word for me… 28 years later I’m still with the same company. Sending condolences to Peter’s family , our thoughts are with you at this sad time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for passing on the sad news, Barry. I'm pleased to have been at Trevenson under Peter's leadership, possibly the best years of CSM which left me with a lot of happy memories. It was always good to see Peter and Esme at the Christmas meals and hear stories of their very active retirement. More recently we did swap the occasional e-mail, I should have tried a bit harder to keep in touch. I can't get to the funeral, I'll try to raise a pint on the day - Starlight, if I can find any.
ReplyDeleteSuch a diminutive figure - but a hugely strong person - and great leader. He understood everyone from the cleaner to the Queen whom of course he met at the Pool Campus in 1980. He was my Principal when I was a student at CSM (1980-83) and when I joined the staff in 1991. Sorely missed. Great man. We loved him.
ReplyDeleteVery Sad to hear the passing of Peter he was a great figure at CSM always very polite and chatty to all my Cleaning Staff and Porters. we had a good interest in old cars and motor cycles. Sadly Missed
ReplyDeleteA full obituary can be found on Cornwall Live
ReplyDeleteChandra Durve:
ReplyDeleteEnd of an Era for me. I along with Chris Becket of Canada, was the longest student at CSM, 1973-1980, all in Peter Hackett's tenure as Principal of CSM. To me his biggest achievement was the uplifting of CSM, both from the point of modernising the institution as well as teaching. He encouraged his staff some that he personally encouraged to join him in Camborne , such as Dr Ferrett, Tony Batchelor from Nottingham but others too such as Dr Barry Wills, Keith Thompson and many others without replacing the original staff such as John Shrimpton, Victor Phillips, Ron Hooper, Ron Gaskell Alan Bromley and many more! Its amazing how he steered the path between the 'old and new' He encouraged and succeeded in getting some of the old lecturers such as Mr Shrimpton, Mr Gaskell and Mr Phillips away to external institutions on Sabbaticals. Both Victor Phillips and Ron Gaskell eventually came back as Dr Phillips and Dr Gaskell. Mr Shrimpton became an expert in Geo-stats as did many others in their own fields such as Mr Briggs. These were chaps of strong personalities and I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been to encourage them. Peter was a great man and although many students were did not have the privilege of getting to know him after Trevenson, believe me he was a great encourager of students. I was honoured to be taught by him, rock testing, a subject that Tony Batchelor took over. I also had the privilege of playing squash, badly on my side, with him. Hard to believe that this huge man with the weight of uplifting CSM found time to mix with us lesser mortals! I also had the privilege of being his Gardner! His beloved wife Esme need to be mentioned too, a wonderful person keen home maker and supporter of CSM. I was lucky to have spoken to her some 40 years after working with her on destoning her garden, she remember me my history and the gardening that I did, helped with another illustrious student who made a great success of his career, perhaps one of the most successful students ever from CSM. Rest in peace Peter, you not only achieved so much but influenced the lives of a huge number of people and their families, and its a shame that many of us were unable to pay our last respects to you by attending your funeral. I will always treasure the last communication that I had with you some three years back. Both you and Esme remained humble people, a side that many were unable to see.
Chandra Durve