Born in
Whanganui in 1927, Hickman grew up in rural
Northland until his family moved to
Auckland in 1941. After finishing his secondary education there, he completed a building apprenticeship and at the same time studied mathematics, physics and geology part-time. He then moved to
Dunedin, and studied at the
University of Otago, Hickman joined the New Zealand Meteorological Service, rising to become its director in 1977. He remained in that role until his retirement in 1988. He served as vice-president of
Regional Association V of the
World Meteorological Organization from 1982 to 1986, and president from 1986 to 1988. and the following year he was awarded an honorary
DSc by
Victoria University of Wellington. He was also awarded the
New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, and in 1998 he was made an honorary member of the Meteorological Society of New Zealand. He died in 2014. ==References==