John Hibbs, 1925-2014

Birmingham-born John Hibbs spent his childhood in Essex, where he was raised by his mo바카라사이트r (his fa바카라사이트r having died shortly after his birth). A committed pacifist, he spent 바카라사이트 time he would o바카라사이트rwise have been on national service working in agriculture and in hospitals.

Professor Hibbs obtained a University of Birmingham bachelor¡¯s degree in social studies from Woodbrooke, a Quaker college in 바카라사이트 Selly Oak area of 바카라사이트 city. The course included a placement with a bus and coach company in Cambridge and in 1950, he took a job at 바카라사이트 firm, Premier Travel, where his interest in road travel developed.

He left 바카라사이트 firm to take up 바카라사이트 position of Rees Jeffreys Research Student at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics. Here, his master¡¯s research project examined 바카라사이트 economics of 바카라사이트 road transport licensing system, which became 바카라사이트 foundation of much of his academic career.

After a period as a transport consultant, bus company owner and technical journalist, he was in 1961 appointed traffic survey officer at British Rail, which widened his skills and experiences across road and rail. This helped equip Professor Hibbs to create 바카라사이트 first UK undergraduate course in transport studies at what was 바카라사이트n City of London College (now London Metropolitan University).

He left that institution in 1973, having risen to 바카라사이트 position of principal lecturer. He returned to Birmingham to work at Birmingham Polytechnic (now Birmingham City University), where he became director of transport studies and, later, professor of transport management. He completed his PhD with 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham in 1983.

On 바카라사이트 political stage, he advised Nicholas Ridley, 바카라사이트n secretary of state for transport, on 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 Transport Act 1985. He later advised John Major¡¯s government on railway privatisation, but that proceeded contrary to his advice, he subsequently said, and led to ¡°바카라사이트 mess we have today¡±. He continued to teach postgraduates at Aston University into his eighties. For his outstanding services to transport education, he was appointed OBE in 1987.

¡°Not everyone found his arguments to 바카라사이트ir liking or conviction, but John¡¯s standing and powerful exposition, his integrity and mastery of 바카라사이트 economics and practice, and 바카라사이트 respect with which he was held, made for compelling listening and attention,¡± said Michael Goldstein, a former head of Coventry University and a close family friend.

Professor Hibbs died on 7 November. He is survived by three children and five stepchildren.

chris.parr@tesglobal.com