Alan James Hilton, died aged 87 on 9th April 2023, and was a pupil at Hymers College from 1944 until 1953, when his mother and siblings returned to Hull, after being evacuated to Burnley. Here they re-joined his father, James Hilton, a maths master at Hymers (1934-1956) who had been evacuated to Pocklington with Hymers earlier in the war.

After obtaining a degree in aeronautical engineering, Alan was considered medically unfit for military service, ironically, as he had an unusually healthy and active life for another sixty years. He worked on the further development of the Comet aeroplane at the de Havillands in Hatfield, then after marriage in 1960, he moved to British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) in Weybridge. Seeing much of his work on Blue Streak coming to nothing, he changed tack and started in the fledging IT industry, which he continued through its many transitions till retirement at 67.

A keen sportsman during schooldays, this interest continued all his life, playing rugby, soccer, tennis, squash, cricket, golf and bowls.

From a musical family, his father being a talented piano player, Alan had extensive classical music knowledge, and on retirement started composing, ending with a considerable body of work, including short pieces for piano, organ, strings, wind  and brass, many being professionally performed.

He is remembered with love by his wife, two sons and their wives, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.