William Nicholas Hitchon

William Nicholas Guy Hitchon (22 October 1957 – 23 July 2023), commonly known as Nick Hitchon, was a nuclear fusion scientist and professor at the University of Wisconsin.[1][2]

Early life and education

Hitchon was born in Skipton, West Riding of Yorkshire (now North Yorkshire), the eldest of three sons to Iona (née Hall) and Guy Hitchon.[3][4] He was educated at Ermysted's Grammar School from 1968 to 1975.[3] Later, he earned a bachelor's and master's degree in physics from Oxford University and a PhD in engineering science from the same university.[3][5]

Hitchon's personal life included two marriages, first to Jacqui Bush in 1979, which ended in divorce, and later to Cryss Brunner in 2001.[3]

Career

In 1964, Hitchon was featured as a child in the Seven Up! documentary for ITV's World in Action series.[2][3] His life was periodically revisited in subsequent episodes by director Michael Apted until 2019.[3][6]

In 1982, Hitchon joined the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in the department of electrical and computer engineering.[3][5] He became a professor in 1994 and served as the department chair from 1999 to 2002.[3][5] In 2023, he took retirement.[7] During his tenure, he authored three books.[3]

Bibliography
  • Plasma Processes for Semiconductor Fabrication

References
  1. Hitchon, Andrew (27 August 2023). "Nick Hitchon obituary". The Guardian.
  2. Genzlinger, Neil (28 August 2023). "Nicholas Hitchon, Who Aged 7 Years at a Time in 'Up' Films, Dies at 65". The New York Times.
  3. Obituaries, Telegraph (22 August 2023). "Nick Hitchon, nuclear scientist whose life's ups and downs were charted in the documentary series Seven Up! – obituary". The Telegraph.
  4. "Nicholas Hitchon obituary". 22 October 2023.
  5. "Remembering Professor William "Nick" Hitchon". 7 August 2023.
  6. "Nicholas Hitchon Dies: British Farm Boy Whose Life Was Chronicled in 'Up' Documentary Series Was 65". 29 August 2023.
  7. "ECE Professor William (Nick) Hitchon retires". 11 July 2023.


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