The death of John Taylor from cancer at the age of 74 robs the industry of one of its foremost experts in the field of community, rural and accessible transport.
In a career lasting some 49 years, John was a pioneer in the field, before becoming a leading consultant for 40 years.
Following several years as a freelancer, he joined forces with the late Peter Huntley in 1994, and became a director of Preston-based firm The TAS Partnership, a position he would hold for the next 32 years. Throughout, he worked extensively with the Community Transport Association UK, authoring several of their guidance publications.
John’s many achievements include writing and developing the nationally accredited MiDAS (Minibus Driver Awareness Scheme) and PATS (Passenger Assistant Training Scheme) systems. He also designed and helped implement systems for assessment of the individual transport safety needs for adults and children with severe disabilities, together with appropriate training for carers.
John Robin Stamford Taylor was born In Croydon, Surrey in April 1952. He was educated at Whitgift School and New College, Oxford, obtaining a degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics before going on to gain a master’s degree in economics at the University of Manchester.
He later earned a Diploma in Business Administration (DBA) from Manchester Business School.
After University, John began training as a Solicitor. He quit before qualification, but his legal training served him and his clients well in the years ahead. He joined the national charity Community Transport (CT) in 1977, gaining first-hand experience of the design, operational, legal and technical aspects of CT. In 1982, he was a co-founder and first Secretary of Manchester Community Transport (originally known as Wythenshawe Mobile). In 1984, he was a founding director of Community Transport Services Ltd., later the Community Transport Association UK.
During his time at TAS, John led a wide variety of projects throughout the UK and Europe. Clients included government departments, devolved assemblies and local government at all levels. He was a pioneer in studies of the feasibility and implementation of local authority Integrated Passenger Transport Units and other co-ordination reviews of education, social care, health and voluntary sector transport for passenger transport and education authorities in the UK and the Republic of Ireland including restructuring of staff roles and changes to responsibilities. At all times, he supported local CT groups, including serving in a voluntary capacity as a director at Preston Community Transport.
For the DfT, he devised the content of, contributed to and edited ‘Tendering Road Passenger Transport Contracts: Best Practice Guide’ (2013), a guide on Disability Discrimination Act compliance on Local Transport Plan investment and the ‘Bus Partnership Best Practice Guide’ (2016). This later proved to be a key document in the development of Bus Service Improvement Plans and Enhanced Partnerships under the 2021 National Bus Strategy.
John had many outside interests, including a particular love of walking and hill-climbing. He achieved one of his lifetime ambitions when he climbed Ama Dablam. Nearer home, he was an avid supporter of Morecambe Football Club and a proud member of the Shrimps Fans Trust.
John is survived by his son Robin, who also works at TAS, Jonathan and Ashley and partner Barbara.
His burial will be at Torrisholme Cemetery, Westgate, Morecambe LA3 3LNA at 11am on 15 September.
