Keith Waterworth, the former Traffic Commissioner (TC) for the North East and North West of England, passed away in his sleep on Tuesday September 11, 2012.
He was initially appointed TC for Scotland in 1990 where he served for three years.
Whilst he enjoyed his time there he had made a promise to his wife to return to Yorkshire, so they were both delighted when he was appointed as the TC for the North East in 1993.
He was then appointed as the TC for the North West in 1996. Following a period of illness he took early retirement in 2000.
During his time as commissioner, Mr Waterworth earned a reputation for being a firm but fair regulator whose professionalism, knowledge and desire to improve road safety gained respect within the bus, coach and haulage industries.
Reflecting on his contribution, Beverley Bell, Senior Traffic Commissioner for Great Britain, who succeeded Mr Waterworth as TC for the North West, said: “Keith Waterworth was held in very high regard by the industry and his fellow TCs. He was robust in his work at public inquiry, using them to deal with serious cases, but he was also visible as a regulator, encouraging joint agency working, attending roadside enforcement checks and contributing to educational road shows.
“Despite his illness Keith continued to travel extensively throughout both of his traffic areas in his work often accompanied by cumbersome medical equipment – he refused to allow his illness to get in the way of the work that he loved. He will be missed by all of the staff in the Office of the Traffic Commissioner who knew and worked with him as well as by those traffic commissioners who served with him.”
He is survived by his widow Judith who was always a staunch supporter of him throughout his working life and who continues to live in Yorkshire.
