It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of John Michael Outhwaite (1948-2025), last Sunday, 23rd March 2025.
John had worked for Foster Transport Compliance for the last 12 years and was a friend and colleague to us all and a man who had a great passion for the transport industry, having worked in and alongside transport for all his life.
He began with North Yorkshire Police in 1972, serving for 30 years with them. Throughout most of his career, he served on traffic and roads policing, and in 1981, was promoted to Sergeant to start and develop the Accident Investigation Unit within North Yorkshire Police. During his enforcement days John was heavily involved in establishing the procedures that we see today in recording the decision-making processes for the investigation of road deaths as set out in the National Road Death Investigation manual and also developed a multi-agency approach following the significant rise in the number of motorcyclists killed or seriously injured in road accidents, that was later adopted nationally and became ‘Bikesafe 2000’ and he was awarded the Prince Michael of Kent, Road Safety Award.
On leaving the police, John swapped to the other side, maintaining his links with the transport industry, obtaining his Certificates of Professional Competence in Transport Management across the board for national and international freight and passenger transport.
He set up his own business specialising in supporting client companies in controlling their organisational road risk and compliance and our paths crossed when he was working as a Transport Manager at a mutual client.
John joined Foster Transport Compliance in April 2013 where he has been a valued colleague and good friend over that time. To all of our clients who have worked with John, experienced his training and his dedication to compliance, they will have experienced John’s encyclopaedic knowledge of transport and legislation, his integrity and desire to ensure that clients have got the best possible service. However, alongside that came John’s humour (something not to be missed, which makes me smile at this sad time), his love of life, nature, being active and, not least, his Family always shone through. The anecdotes he would regale, many of which he delivered whilst training, or over a quiet drink, will be sadly missed, although I’m sure we will keep some of those tales alive to help get the message of compliance across.
Outside work, John was an avid sailor, refereeing in world championships, and making us all jealous as he disappeared for long weekends or even a week or more to locations such as Lake Garda, Palma or Monaco. He also loved his cycling, nature and he and Gail would often take themselves away to explore the remote places. He loved spending time with his grandson, sharing train journeys, travelling back and forth from Berwick.
John’s family are arranging a small family funeral but were happy for us to share John’s life with the transport industry, which he loved and to which he will be sadly missed. Our thoughts are with Gail and the family at this time.
With love from all at Foster Transport Compliance.
Kind Regards to all who knew John
Gordon Humphreys on behalf of Foster Transport Compliance
