Tributes have been paid to a well-respected former road safety professional from Greater Manchester who sadly passed away on 25 January 2021, aged 68 years, following a long battle with cancer.
Josie Wride started her career in 1974 at Salford Council as a typist and treasurer’s clerk in the finance department but soon applied for a job as road safety officer with Greater Manchester Council (GMC).
Following the abolishment of GMC in 1986, Josie was appointed road safety officer for Trafford Council.
At the time, the press reported: “Josie Wride is a woman with a driving ambition for Trafford… to keep death off the borough’s roads.
“And so she’s right behind new legislation which comes into force – making it illegal to carry children in the back of a car fitted with rear seat belts without strapping them in.
“For Josie, pictured, is Trafford’s road safety officer, at the head of a hard-working team dedicated to teaching locals good road manners.”
Josie held many road safety roles over the years including LARSOA (now Road Safety GB) advisor, school crossing patrol (SCP) advisor in partnership with RoSPA, and Greater Manchester road safety officer chair leading on numerous education, training and publicity initiatives across the north west.
In 1998, Josie persuaded the Greater Manchester Police chief constable to introduce the National Driver Intervention Scheme in Greater Manchester (now DriveSafe) and became treasurer for the National Association of Driver Intervention Providers (NADIP).
In 2003, Josie was awarded a well-deserved Fellowship of the Institute of Road Safety Officers for her contribution to road safety nationally.
Josie created and chaired the Greater Manchester Casualty Reduction Partnership which continues to this day as Safer Roads Greater Manchester led by the Safer Roads team at Transport for Greater Manchester.
Karen Delaney, Safer Roads Partnership manager said: “Josie was so passionate and enthusiastic about road safety – a great lady, fabulous boss and wonderful company.”
Lee Davies, DriveSafe manager, added: “Josie was an icon within road safety, a caring and approachable person with an infectious laugh and smile – there will be many fond memories for all that knew her.”
Very sad to hear this news. Josie was my first line manager in the world of work, and she was always kind, caring and professional. She supported me in my first few years and set up my professional career path, which I am always grateful for.
Paul Barrett, Sale
0
RIP Josie Wride, What a legacy you have left behind, through all your hard work, dedication and devotion to the cause, GM has a safer road network. In my early days in Road Safety I used to sit in meetings with Josie, listening and learning from her – what an inspiration she was.
The pictures on here of Josie are just how she was, laughing and smiling and with a cheeky sense of humour – you will be sadly missed Josie
I offer my condolences to her family and friends.
Paul Leatherbarrow
+1
So sorry to hear the sad news and my condolences go to all her family. She was a lovely lively women who was a great support to me when I had cancer. It was lovely to have worked with her when I was in GMTU.
Linda Turner, Bolton
+1
So sorry to hear this sad news.
I always remember Josie with a smile on her face from my GMTU days.
RIP Josie
Steve Newby, Cambridge
+1
I had the pleasure of working with Josie on the SCP Advisors group. She was always so friendly and willing to help with her great knowledge of road safety and the SCP service. I learnt a lot from her. Such sad news.
Richard
richard.hall@northlincs.gov.uk, Brigg
0
RIP lovely lady
Ken Wheat, Sheffield
+1
I was lucky enough to work with Josie at Trafford, what an amazing person.
Professional , always smiling , friendly and helpful.
I have some lovely memories of our working life , Josie wasn’t just a boss she was everyone’s friend.
Rest in peace Josie you will be missed by many xx
Sue Whitehead, Manchester
+4
It was my great pleasure to work with Josie a number of times. Kind, thoughtful and dedicated to making the roads safer. Such sad news.
Ian Edwards, Doncaster
+1
I was very sad to hear of Josie’s passing and her family and friends are in my thoughts. I first met her over 30 years ago when I was the student rep on the board of studies for the Road Safety qualification at Openshaw College. I will always appreciate the support that she gave me then and throughout my career through LARSOA and eventually when I had the privilege of joining the Greater Manchester group of Road Safety Officers in 2006. Her good humour and positive spirit in leading the group, especially with her later post at TfGM helped us to work very closely together as a regional. Her legacy will live on with the continuing cooperation between the 10 districts that she was so instrumental in setting up. RIP
Richard Clark, Stafford
+1
So very sad to read that another stalwart of the Road Safety profession has passed away far too early.
Josie was a true professional who upheld the very best traditions of our profession. I offer my sincere condolences to her family and friends.
David Williams, Former Chairman Institute of Road Safety officers.
David Williams, Buxted East Sussex
+2
Josie contributed so much to the Road Safety arena. We first met several years ago when I attended my first ANDISP meeting when Josie was Treasurer.
Josie was always smiling, cheerful, friendly and helpful and made me feel very welcome. Josie always supported the many service providers she worked with demonstrating her depth of knowledge of the industry.
On behalf of NADIP, may I offer our sincere condolences to the family.
Sally Plail, Essex
+2
Thank you so so much to whoever put together this article to pay tribute to my mum and for the lovely comments from those who worked with mum over the years.
It has been so lovely for myself, my brother and dad to read about her amazing achievements (some we knew about, others not), and to hear about how much you all thought of mum and to hear your memories of her xxx
Becky Brooke (Josie’s daughter)
Becky Brooke, Leeds
+7
I started my career in road safety in 1997 and met Josie about 4 weeks into it at a LARSOA meeting. Over lunch she welcomed me to the family. Over time we worked on many schemes together and I soon learnt how much of a force this lady could be.
As for me, Josie is the 3rd loss within the RS family and all 3 were taken to soon. Her knowledge and spirit is irreplaceable
My thoughts and condolences to her family. All of us 🙁
Stuart Howarth, Wigan
+2
Condolences to Josie’s Family, Such a lovely Lady full of Smiles and Laughter RIP.
Bev
Beverley Knight, Manchester
+1
Josie was such a lovely, welcoming lady when I was thrown into the world of road safety. What a sad loss to us all. She will have saved many lives on the roads of GM. Very lucky and proud to have known her
Lesley Allen, High Peak
+2
I was lucky enough to be Traffic Manager at Trafford for many years when Josie was in charge of the adjacent Road Safety team. I can give no greater praise for Josie other than to say I know of nobody who worked with Josie who had a bad word to say for her. Always dedicated to Road Safety and always full of joy. It was my pleasure to have known her. God bless Josie, rest in peace.
Geoff Williamson, Disley, Cheshire
+9
Lovely lady, I worked with her during the NDIS and NADIP days. Always found her helpful, encouraging and full of life.
Greatly missed.
Mike Yeomans, Hull
+4
Josie was a lovely lady with a zest fpr life was vey sad to hear the news of her passing RIP Josie xxx
veronica perrin, Salford
+5
Sad news indeed . Always found Josie to be so helpful and was of great assistance along with Colin Pettener when needing advice on SXP issues we were having when reforming the SXP service in Glasgow . Condolences to all Josie’s family and friends.
Bill Smith, Glasgow
+3
What very sad news. Sincere condolences to Josie’s family. RIP.
Theresa Casbard, Hoddesdon
+3
Sincerest condolences to Josie’s family and friends – always smiling, a true road safety professional, with such a passion to improve road safety for all.
Liz brooker, Lewisham
+3
A consummate professional and a lovely lady as well. A significant player in getting NDORS rolled out across the UK. Her legacy will be remembered for a long time. What a privilege to have known her and worked wit her. RIP Jose.
Ian Aspinall, Exeter
+3
Thanks Josie
Having your infectious appetite of Road Safety you truly took us all along in developing the Manchester NDIS. It was great to know you and spend time in your company xx
Paul
Paul Clarke, Preston
+6
I was very fortunate to work with Josie for a short period during my time at DriveSafe. Such a lovely lady to work with and kind at heart. You will be missed Josie x
Alex Airey, Manchester
+5
I was one of the lucky people who had the pleasure of working along side this amazing lady. Jo was always full of laughter and smiles and even when things were tough, her ability to rally the Greater Manchester Road Safety Teams was second to none. She was an amazing role model and a road safety legend and I will be forever thankful for the assistance and support she gave me. Thanks Josie xx
Julie Dagnall, Cheshire
+10
RIP Josie. A great lady who helped many people to progress their careers, and a true leader in road safety.
Nadeem
+11
Very sorry to hear this sad news about Josie. She was indeed a lovely lady and great company. I first met Jodie in the mid 1980’s, when I joined Road Safety and have very fond memories of working with her on a number of RSGB projects. I learned a great deal from her and she leaves behind an important Road Safety legacy. Sincerest condolences to her family, friends and colleagues.
Ann Marie Bailey, Cambridgeshire
+8