A Yarnbrook man responsible for bringing heavy engineering education to Wiltshire, as well as being instrumental in the introduction of diesel hydraulic trains to the UK, has been praised for his years of dedication to Wiltshire’s railways.
Until recently, Horace Prickett was a Director at the community rail partnership, TransWilts. The role culminated in a long-standing career across engineering and education that has shaped the railways in the region.
Entering the world of work as a 15-year-old apprentice in 1956, the last 70 years have seen major changes in the railways across the country. Thanks to Westbury’s strategic location at the intersection of a number of routes across the south of England, Horace took advantage of the opportunities presented.
“Ever since I had my own clockwork railway at the age of 11, I was interested in railways and transport, and as a youngster I would spend a lot of time noting down train numbers and talking to the officers at Edington station,” explained Horace. “At 15 I started an apprenticeship as a locomotive fitter, turner and erector, and learnt how to build and repair railway engines from scratch – and I think this was the best thing to happen to me.
“I was stationed in the Westbury depot but also travelled around the country to learn an awful lot, as well as spending a year in Swindon where I helped to build the last two steam locomotives. I saw the replacement of steam with diesel, as well as the introduction of diesel hydraulics, which at the time were only used in Germany and the UK.”
When government cuts to the railways in the early 1960s meant that highly skilled engineers were faced with finding other jobs, Horace secured the opportunity to pass on his knowledge to generations of Wiltshire’s engineers by setting up the heavy engineering department at Trowbridge College. “We had 12 weeks to get a technical college set up,” continued Horace. “Teaching was a new field, but what we were teaching was what I had trained in and I was doing what I had enjoyed on the railways.”
He also entered politics, standing as both a Parish and Town Councillor, as well as a stint as Mayor of Westbury, Horace was also appointed to the role of Wiltshire Council’s Portfolio Holder for Public Transport. As part of this role, he had worked closely with the local community rail partnership, TransWilts, for a number of years and in 2017 he formally became a Director.
Since its inception, TransWilts has successfully brought about improvements to the services in its area, improved the timetables and supported the local community, in particular through continuing to promote the railways and give people who might not otherwise be able to access it the chance to experience travel by train.
Sophie Martin, Community Partnership Manager at TransWilts, said: “Horace’s contribution to TransWilts, as well as to engineering and the railways in our region, is an amazing achievement across a lifetime. His unparalleled knowledge, dedicated service, and unwavering support for community rail and the communities it connects will be sorely missed.
“Horace was instrumental in spearheading a number of community initiatives over the years in previous roles, and many we still continue today, including our days out to the beach where we take members of our community who may otherwise find it difficult to enjoy such a day out. Not only do these activities help people explore their own area by train, they’re also helping to instil a lasting love of the railways in the next generation.”
Find out more about TransWilts at www.transwilts.org.
