Fred Adcock (c1896-1943)
1944 Obituary [1]
FRED ADCOCK, Ph.D., M.Sc., was educated at King Edward's School, Aston, and at the University of Birmingham, where he studied with distinction, and was awarded the Bowen Research Scholarship in engineering, graduating B.Sc. with honours in 1920. In addition he obtained his M.Sc. degree in 1921 and a year later that of Ph.D. He served his apprenticeship in various works during his college vacations.
His first appointment was as junior engineer in Messrs. Alfred Hickman's Iron Works, Bilston, where he was employed on the design of plant and the supervision of its erection. After a brief period as research metallurgist to Messrs. Kynoch, Ltd., Birmingham, he received the appointment of development engineer to Messrs. Courtaulds, Ltd., at their Coventry works, where for the last seventeen years of his life he had ample scope for his talents as a research engineer. He was chiefly concerned with the manufacture of viscose and cellulose acetates, and kindred processes. In addition he was employed on the construction of new factories for the firm.
During the war of 1914-1918 he served with the Royal Engineers in France for four years. Mr. Adcock, whose death occurred on 6th May 1943 at the age of 47, was elected a Graduate of the Institution in 1922 and was transferred to Associate Membership in 1924; he was awarded a Graduate's Prize for his paper on "The Indicating of Petrol Engines", which he presented in October 1923.