CPT has announced the death of David Watson, former Director of Government Relations in Europe.
David had worked in the bus and coach industry for almost 30 years, joining the Bus & Coach Council in 1986 as a PR Executive, following a career in public relations and marketing.
He was appointed Director of Public Affairs in 1990 and Director of Government Relations (EU) in 2000. After retiring from CPT (on the first of many occasions) in 2005, David returned a few years later as acting Director of Communications and played a key role in the creation and launch of the bus industry’s annual ‘On The Move’ campaign.
CPT Chief Executive Simon Posner said: “It was David who brought me in to CPT from the Department for Transport. I was in the Minister’s Private Office when I first met David and remember thinking then that he was head and shoulders above anybody else in the art of lobbying Ministers.
“Later on when he asked me to work under him at CPT, it was a very easy decision to make. I started learning from David on day one and continued to learn from him up until the day he retired. He was a master at getting people in positions of influence and power to have his ideas. He was also the funniest, rudest and kindest man I have ever met and I, along with so many others, will miss him greatly.”
Steven Salmon, CPT’s Director of Policy Development said: “David was extraordinarily good at building relationships with MEPs, and not just the British ones. This was partly because of his genuine interest in their work and wider life and partly because, as one of the oldest lobbyists in the Parliament, he was much closer in age to most of them than the young lads and lasses starting out in their careers.
“It also helped that he was only ever associated with CPT, unlike the people who lobby for aluminium smelters one month and pig farmers the next. His urbanity and wit also served us well.”
In line with David’s wishes, there will be no funeral service but those wishing to make a donation to McMillan Cancer Support in David’s name can do so at www.macmillan.org.uk/donate
