Hawthorne in Russia in 1968, travelling for an exchange programme between the Royal Society and the USSR Academy of Sciences. Reference: Hawthorne Papers, HATN 10/5.
Our collections are not all about politics and military strategy; we also collect material in the areas of science and technology, and on the history of Churchill College. The papers of the late Sir William Hawthorne fall under both categories: a professor of applied thermodynamics who helped developed the jet engine, Sir William was the second Master of Churchill College, from 1968 to 1983.
Sir William is most famous for his work in 1940-1941 with Frank Whittle on the combustion chambers that were used in Britain’s first jet planes. His research folders notably include a copy of notes scribbled by Flight Lieutenant P.E.G. Sayer on his knee pad during the test flight of the Gloster E28/39 jet equipped with Whittle’s engine, which took place on the 15th May 1941 at RAF Cranwell.
Notes made by Flight Lieutenant P.E.G Sayer during the test flight of the Gloster E28/39, 1941. Reference: Hawthorne Papers, HATN 2/5.
Also of interest are his papers on the “Dracone” project, developed in response to the Suez Crisis in 1956 and the resulting oil shortage. To increase efficiency in oil transport, Hawthorne had the idea of using flexible vessels made of rubberised cotton dinghy fabric as oil barges, to be towed by existing tankers. When empty, the vessels – coined “dracones” or sea serpents – could be rolled up and returned more quickly to the source of supply. Here you can see a later version of the Dracone, the Draconella, being tested on the river Ouse in 1947.
Draconella being filled from a tanker lorry, 1957. Reference: Hawthorne Papers, HATN 4/3/1.
Some of Hawthorne’s papers show a more unexpected side of his life – his passion for conjuring. One member of the audience present at the sawing act that Hawthorne, president of the Pentacle Club of magic, performed in 1983, commented that cold shudders ran through him as Hawthorne cut his own daughter in two, wiping the bloody weapon on a white towel to great effect!
Those and other documents in memory of Sir William Hawthorne are currently on display at Churchill College, at the entrance of the dining hall.
Hawthorne’s Pentacle Club of Magic membership card. Reference: Hawthorne Papers, HATN 6/6.
Laure Bukh.