Colin Pettener MBE

13.15 | 12 June 2018 | | 14 comments

Colin Pettener MBE, former county road safety officer for Shropshire, passed away on Monday 11 June after a battle against cancer.

In 2002 Colin was awarded a Prince Michael International Road Safety Award for his contribution to the National Driver Improvement Scheme, and in 2004 he received the Lynda Chalker Award from Road Safety GB (formerly LARSOA).

He was awarded an MBE in the 2006 Queen’s Birthday Honours List and in 2007 RoSPA honoured him with an award for Distinguished Service in recognition of his outstanding contribution to road safety.

Later in his career he was a road safety consultant with the TTC Group.

Colin was instrumental in the introduction of the National Driver Improvement Scheme, following a successful pilot project in Devon and Cornwall.

He was a founder member and former chairman of the National Association of Driver Intervention Providers (when it was known as ANDISP).

Ian Powell, chair of NADIP, said: “I had the pleasure of working with Colin as his secretary while he was chairman of ANDISP for three years.

“He was a real gentleman, had a genuine interest in people, and was keen to engage and listen.

“He never lost his enthusiasm for promoting the cause of road safety and was a good ambassador for us all.”

Message from Colin’s family

It would be our pleasure if you were able to join with us to celebrate Colin’s life and achievements, at 11.30am on 2 July 2018 at Shrewsbury Crematorium, London Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 6PS. Please dress to suit your comfort. The immediate family will be wearing smart, casual clothing.

Following the service, we would very much like you to join our family at the Mytton and Mermaid Hotel, Atcham, SY5 6QG to raise a toast to a wonderful man, who is very much missed.


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    Goodbye Colin. You were gracious, generous and dedicated. Your skills meant you were able to move between people and organisations such that our efforts could be more coherent and ‘joined up’. Your personality and status in the road safety world encouraged others to support you, especially in the common endeavour to bring driver offender training from its beginnings in Devon to the scale and impact it has today. Thank you for everything.


    Peter Gimber, Exeter
    Agree (5) | Disagree (0)
    +5

    A gentleman, friend, dear colleague and a true professional to the road safety industry. Colin will be missed but never forgotten.


    Adrian Hide, Stoke on Trent
    Agree (4) | Disagree (0)
    +4

    How sad I am to lose a great friend and colleague whom I shared so many happy times with both when he was County Road Safety Officer for Shropshire and Road Safety Consultant with the TTC Group. Colin was one of the most kind and considerate people it has been my pleasure to have known. He always had time for people and gave of himself 100% plus in everything he did. I spent many nights away on various ventures with him in the interests of road safety. He justly was awarded an MBE for his services to our cause and he was proud to have received it not just for himself but for all those who like Colin gave and give of themselves to saving lives on the road. I will remember for many years the special conversations we had in the last couple of weeks of his life and I give thanks that I had the opportunity to share my time with such a lovely and talented person. RIP


    Graham Feest, Worthing
    Agree (7) | Disagree (0)
    +7

    I met Colin whilst attending CRSOA meetings and sub-committees in London and at many IRSO Conferences and found him to be a true gentleman, always smiling and ready to help and give advice whenever asked, which was always of the highest standard. He was well deserving of the many honours bestowed on him. May he now rest in peace. Please convey to his family my sincerest condolences.

    Derek C Donald (Former Senior Road Safety Officer of Highland Regional Council)


    Derek C Donald, Inverness
    Agree (3) | Disagree (0)
    +3

    So sad to hear of Colin’s passing. Certainly I can only agree with all the comments, a true gentleman who always had a fantastic wit, which would put you at ease on any occasion.

    I can remember when he was Road Safety Officer in Shropshire, giving Colan some help and advice when we were first starting out in business. Then the AIRSO conferences, he would always have that smile, fantastic chap who will be sadly missed.


    Mike Hancox, Warwick
    Agree (3) | Disagree (0)
    +3

    I was introduced to Colin in 1998 when I started in Road Safety. A true gent with a wicked sence of humour.

    When someone like Colin passes you don’t just lose a person you lose a piece of history.

    My sympathies to his family. His legacy in this field will go on for some years.


    Stuart Howarth, Wigan
    Agree (3) | Disagree (0)
    +3

    RIP Colin
    Both he and a certain colleague of similar vintage were often merciless in their challenges when I was Chair of LARSOA but he was always polite and respectful and always wanted to guide us in the right direction. I worked closely with him on the SCP 50th anniversary and even though he did all the hard work he was very keen not to take the limelight away from the bigger picture and I always could and often did ask him for advice. Hopefully the older ones of us out there- and still carrying the manner will know what I mean when the best thing about him was that he was a true gentleman


    Stephen Whitehouse
    Agree (7) | Disagree (0)
    +7

    I too would like to endorse all of the lovely comments about Colin.

    I’m sure he wouldn’t mind me saying, but for such a ‘small’ chap, Colin was certainly one Road Safety’s ‘biggest’ characters, who left his mark on our professsion.

    Colin will be sadly missed, but remembered fondly – especially from the RSGB/LARSOA/CRSOA conferences!

    Sincerest condolences to the family.


    Ann Marie Bailey, Huntingdon
    Agree (7) | Disagree (0)
    +7

    May I endorse the comments made regarding the sad news of the passing of Colin Pettener. Colin was a tremendous supporter of our profession and of IRSO and AIRSO. His work in supporting and developing the road safety qulification course at MANCAT was truly outstanding and many RSOs have benefitted from his decication and hard work.

    Having worked with Colin on a number of issues I also personally experienced his dedication, humour and wonderful frienship.He will be sadly missed.

    David Williams, Retired CEO GEM Motoring Assist and former Chairman of IRSO & AIRSO.


    David Williams MBE, Buxted, East Sussex
    Agree (6) | Disagree (0)
    +6

    Sad news indeed. I had the pleasure of working with Colin in the early days of Driver Improvement and he always balanced his absolute commitment to the cause with wit, charm and an unfailingly even tempered nature. Our paths crossed many times after those days and he never failed to be interested, supportive and courteous on every occasion. Many will miss him and rightly so,


    Jeremy Phillips, Exeter
    Agree (7) | Disagree (0)
    +7

    Really sad to hear this news, Colin was such a lovely and helpful individual. I had the pleasure of spending both work and social occasions with Colin – he did not half love telling a story, particularly of his time in the RAF in Scotland.

    I also recall a very long and liquid evening in the Lord Hill Hotel in Shrewsbury and being regaled with stories of his road safety adventures stretching back over goodness how many years.

    He did so much in making road safety in the UK what it is today, be it through his SXP, Driver Improvement or MANCAT work. In particular he gave Glasgow City Council very sound and robust advice when we were re-structuring the SXP service in the early 2000s.

    A character who will be much missed.


    Bill Smith, GLASGOW
    Agree (9) | Disagree (0)
    +9

    Colin will be sadly missed. I had the pleasure of meeting him at several conferences and other events. Always a gentleman and hugely knowledgeable. A wicked sense of humour too. When I first started at West Sussex as team manager and a complete novice to road safety he was very helpful on several occasions.


    Ron Paterson, Horsham
    Agree (9) | Disagree (0)
    +9

    Colin will be remembered by so many people, not only for his impressive commitment and contribution to road safety but also for his personal qualities, attributes and standards. A true Gentleman who will be missed immensely.


    alan prosser, Welwyn Garden City
    Agree (10) | Disagree (0)
    +10

    Very sad news.

    I had the pleasure of working with Colin on a number of occasions and he always was the gentleman of the profession, courteous, supportive and charming. He gave freely of his time, experiences, enthusiasm, energy and his knowledge. Anyone could contact him with problems or queries and he would listen and advise. I still have notes he sent me about committee management. I am glad our paths crossed.


    Peter wilson, Westminster
    Agree (10) | Disagree (0)
    +10

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