It is with great sadness, and admiration, that we reflect on the life of our dear friend and colleague, Colin.
Colin began his career with Otis and quickly rose through the engineering ranks, becoming one of the top Otis salesmen in the UK before moving into consulting, a path he followed for the next 17 years. We were the lucky beneficiaries of his extensive knowledge and expertise when he joined SVMA as an associate in 2019. As so many of the team already knew Colin, some for as long as 40 years, Colin fitted in seamlessly and became an integral part of the Lift & Escalator Division.
Over a career spanning more than four decades, he became one of the most respected and widely known figures in lift engineering, a reputation reflected not only in his professional standing but also in his regular column for Elevator World, read and valued by engineers across the industry.
Colin’s expertise was matched by a remarkable breadth of professional qualifications: he was a UK Chartered Engineer and Fellow of CIBSE, a European Engineer, a Chartered Safety and Health Practitioner, an accredited consultant on the HSE Occupational Safety and Health Consultants Register, and a member of the Chartered Institution of Occupational Safety and Health.
Fewer people knew that he was also a qualified barrister, having been called to the Bar by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple; a reflection of a mind that was as rigorous and analytical as it was generous with its knowledge. This made him a formidable legal expert witness on some of the most challenging cases, and he was one of the go-to professionals in the UK. Colin was never afraid to share his opinions, which were always well thought-out, researched and articulated
But for those of us who worked closely alongside him, Colin will be remembered for more than his qualifications. Colin was a genuinely nice, good person, and the SVMA team not only respected him but also liked him.
We have many fond memories of Colin, including his habit of conducting conference calls on loudspeaker in the office, which was somewhat disruptive but kind of funny at the same time!! The Team calls were mainly related to his role as a mentor and assessor for CIBSE, where he advised young engineers and supported their progress. This put something back into the industry without reward or acknowledgement, and it truly reflected how passionate Colin was about what he did and how he genuinely wanted to help people, especially those entering the lift industry.
Our thoughts are with Colin’s family and loved ones at this difficult time. He leaves behind a legacy of expertise, integrity and generosity that shaped our industry and shaped many of us who had the privilege of learning from him. There is no doubt he is a big loss to our industry, and we will do our best to continue his work and passion for improving lift safety and working practices.
If you would like to share a memory or send a message for Colin’s family, please get in touch, and we can pass these on for you.
Thank you, Colin. You will be missed more than you know.
To read Colin’s Elevator World articles, please visit our news section on our website.
