John Howard : Condolence Messages
Book of Condolence for John Howard, RoSPA Chief Executive who sadly died recently.
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John Howard, OBE RoSPA Chief Executive |
100
29 July 2005
We were shocked to hear of John's untimely death.
Under John's leadership RoSPA have taken forward the safety agenda immeasurably. They have also provided great support to my organisation.
Thank you - you will be missed.
Brian Adams
Corporate Affairs Director
CORGI
99
29 July 2005
John's untimely death was a great shock. He was a pleasure to work with and provided unstinting support and encouragement to those around him. It was always a treat to see how he balanced his knowledge of what could be achieved with his vision of what needed to be achieved. He taught me a lot and I will miss him.
Please add my condolences for his family, friends and colleagues.
Martin Gomberg
RoSPA Safety Education Adviser 1993-1999
98
28 July 2005
It is hard to believe that John is not any more amongst us. I will remember him as a very dear friend.
'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? [...]
So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,
so long lives this, and gives life to thee.'
Harry van Vondel
Mons Nederland B.V.
97
28 July 2005
Having received the recent e-mail I was shocked to hear of the news regarding the sudden death of John. Over the years, I got to know John at various road safety conferences and courses and found him very approachable and the most courteous gentleman I have met. He will be sadly missed by all working in the field of road safety and accident prevention.
Please convey all our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers from Dublin to his family and colleagues in RoSPA. He will be sadly missed by all.
Michael J. Byrne MIRSO
Dublin City Council
96
28 July 2005
I was deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden death of Mr. John Howard, OBE. When President of the Road Safety Council for N. Ireland I had the privilege of meeting John and having many discussions with him. We were good friends.
John Howard was a very sincere, honest and honourable man who had a great passion for all matters relating to road safety. He was always keen to hear the views of other people and to discuss and pursue with enthusiasm new and innovative ideas, which would contribute to greater road safety.
I always found John to be a 'gentleman' and a 'gentle - man'. He will be greatly missed by his very wide circle of friends. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.
Ronald Alexander Matthews MBE
Past President of Road Safety Council N. Ireland
95
28 July 2005
It is with great sadness that I write in response to the unexpected news about John Howard. John was always energetic in his dealings with the DSA and remained a delightful person to spend time with.
The news of his death came as a complete surprise to everyone in DSA, so we cannot really comprehend the shock to RoSPA staff. The “safety” community have lost a great man and I have lost a friend.
Our sympathies to everyone at RoSPA and to John’s family. He will be missed.
Gary Austin
Driving Standards Agency
94
28 July 2005
I was deeply saddened by the news about John. RoSPA has lost a doughty champion for the cause of safety. John impressed all those he came into contact with at the HSC and HSE and he will be sorely missed.
I would be grateful if you could pass on my condolences to his family and all his colleagues at RoSPA.
Bill Callaghan
Chair - Health & Safety Commission
93
28 July 2005
On behalf of the National Union of Teachers, I would like to send our condolences following the recent sudden death of RoSPA’s Chief Executive, John Howard.
The Union greatly appreciates the good work John carried out over the years and values the working relationship he maintained between our two organisations.
Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
Steve Sinnott
National Union of Teachers
92
28 July 2005
The death of a family member or close friend is never easy at any time, but when it happens suddenly and at a relatively young age, it is tragic for those who are left behind trying to come to terms with their loss.
My connection with John was via the National Occupational Safety and Health Committee and as a former Chair of that Committee with some of the other Policy Committees. Thus I have worked with John from the early 1980’s and was very much looking forward to meeting him again at the Congress & Awards due to take place at Glasgow in September 2005. I am still trying to come to terms with the news but I would take this opportunity of extending my sympathy to all the staff at RoSPA House who, like me, and the many friends of John within the Health & Safety world, will need time to get over this sad loss.
On a personal note, I was delighted when John was appointed as Chief Executive of RoSPA and our best tribute to him will be to continue with the action plans already under way.
J. Russell Brownlie
Vice-Chair – National Occupational Safety & Health Committe
91
28 July 2005
It was a great shock to hear of John Howard’s death. It is in John’s personal capacity that I shall remember him. In his former role as Safety Policy Director he didn’t just appoint people, but carried on supporting them afterwards, being interested in their contribution to the organisation. He was ever the gentleman, something I found refreshing in these days of more brittle personalities and yet he could be a hard taskmaster when he wanted to be! As an ex-member of staff, I have fond memories of my time at RoSPA and, in particular, of working with John. My best wishes to everyone at RoSPA at this sad time.
Patricia Siddall
Formerly of the RoSPA Information Centre
90
28 July 2005
I was deeply saddened to hear of the untimely death of John Howard last week. He was a true gentleman and passionate campaigner for RoSPA and will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this time.
Dianne Hooper
Former RoSPA employee
89
28 July 2005
John had a way of making everyone he spoke to feel valued. His warm and friendly personality along with his huge hearty laugh made sharing time with him a happy experience. His dedication to injury prevention was an inspiration. He will be greatly missed.
A gentleman in every sense of the word.
Margaret Brunton
South Lanarkshire Council
88
27 July 2005
Such sad news. I shall remember John not only for his valued contributions to the world of safety, but for his kindness and consideration. My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.
Liz Spencer
IOSH Head of PR, 1999-2004
87
27 July 2005
John was a true gentleman and will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.
Jim Black
Scottish Accident Prevention Council
86
26 July 2005
I wanted to write to express my great sadness and sympathy following the unexpected news of the death of John Howard.
I know that his sudden loss will be a personal shock and a professional blow to all of you at RoSPA, as well as to your many friends and supporters in government and the community. Above all, my sincere condolences go to John’s family.
Since moving into this field of work in 1998, I have had the greatest regard for John’s very evident passion and commitment to the cause of safety and accident prevention. As always, this was communicated with insight, understanding and firmness, but also with characteristic warmth and courtesy. Despite the seriousness of the issues involved, there was still room for a sense of humour and a twinkle in the eye when the opportunity arose.
At a personal level, my sister and her family as well as myself, were very touched by John’s support at the memorial service in 2001 for my brother-in-law, Roger Peal, with whom John had had close links in developing effective road safety strategies and campaigns.
I’m sure that there will be many tributes to John’s life and work in the days to come, but if appropriate, perhaps you would pass this message on to John’s family and to the Trustees as a small token of admiration and respect from myself, my family and from colleagues here in ODPM and the National Community Fire Safety Centre.
Ian Evans
Head of the National Community Fire Safety Centre
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
85
26 July 2005
Receiving a call from an ex colleague on Monday 18th July I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear that John Howard had died. John always gave his all to RoSPA and his passion for health and safety shone out. Just the other day I found myself telling a taxi driver to wear his seatbelt and I told him where I used to work! John would have been proud. Not only did he make a real difference in the health and safety arena but he was also such a lovely man - a warm, genuine, caring, intelligent gentleman with a fantastic sense of humour. One of his favourite sayings was "happy days!" He was always so bright and bubbly even when things got tough. I will miss him and my thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and colleagues.
Susie Palfreyman
RoSPA 2002-2005
84
26 July 2005
I am very sorry to hear of the sudden death of John Howard. It must have been a great shock. Would you please convey my deepest sympathy to his family in what must be an extremely difficult time. He clearly was a man of considerable ability and I am sure he will be sadly missed.
Yours Sincerely
Geoffrey Bray
Chairman
Fleet Support Group Ltd
83
26 July 2005
It is with great sadness that we have read the ROSPA announcement informing us of John Howard's passing.
All of those at TTC who had contact with John, held him in the highest regard for his knowledge and willingness to help, but mainly because he was an exceptionally nice man - a true gentleman.
We know he will be sadly missed by his colleagues at ROSPA and a significant loss to the safety industry.
Would you please pass on our condolences to his family and of course our sympathy to you and your colleagues at ROSPA.
Graham Wynn
TTC 2000
82
26 July 2005
I am very sorry to learn of the untimely death of John with whom I enjoyed a very cordial working relationship for many years. John was very supportive of the work of the Road Safety Education Service in Northern Ireland and the Road Safety Council of Northern Ireland. During my many meetings with him I was impressed with his genuine interest in the opinions of others and his tremendous ability to gain agreement over difficult issues.
John will be sadly missed by his many friends in Northern Ireland.
Harry Green
Department of the Environment (NI)
81
26 July 2005
Although John was best known for his great achievements within health and safety, I for one will always remember him as a jolly and friendly man who took the time to get to know those around him.
John always had a smile and a few kind words for those who worked at RoSPA, no matter where they appeared within the organisational structure. This is what endeared John to so many of us who did not directly work with him, and stood him apart as an exceptional Chief Executive.
He will be greatly missed, and my thoughts go out to his friends, family and colleagues at this time.
Anita Bartlett
RoSPA 2001-2004
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