Sir Denis Eric Rooke, OM, CBE, FRS, FREng (2 April 1924 - 2 September 2008) was a British industrialist and engineer.
Contents |
Rooke was born in New Cross, London, the younger son of F. G. Rooke.[1] He studied Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering at University College London, then served in REME until 1949, attaining the rank of Major.[1] He married Brenda Evans[2] in 1949, and they had a daughter, Diana, who survived him. He died 2 September 2008.
From 1949 he worked in the gas industry, first on coal tar, then on Liquefied natural gas (LNG),[3] pioneering the sea transport of LNG.[1][4] He was aboard the ship making the first delivery of LNG to the UK in 1959.[3][5]
He became Deputy Chairman of the Gas Council in 1972, and along with the Chairman, Sir Henry Jones. and Sir Arthur Hetherington, he was responsible for combining the Gas Council and 12 separate gas boards into the British Gas Corporation in 1973.[1]
He was awarded the CBE in 1970, and knighted in 1977.[1]
He was Chancellor of Loughborough University from 1989 to 2003 and a building was named after him.[6]
| Preceded by Sir Arnold Hall |
Chancellor of Loughborough University 1989–2003 |
Succeeded by Sir John Jennings |