1 September 1952 – 17 February 2023
David Thomas Kelly MSOE, MIRTE
The Brunel Regional Group regret to announce the passing of David Thomas Kelly, aged 70 years, in the early morning of the 17 February, 2023 in Southmead Hospital, Bristol. He was an Associate Member of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers and joined in 1980. He was a prominent member of its Western Centre and latterly the Brunel Regional Group; being the Honorary Treasurer for as long as can be remembered and at least 42 years. He must have been one of the Institute’s longest serving voluntary officers. He was elected Chairman of the Centre for the year of the IRTE’s 50th Jubilee year, 1998, and the Centre’s 25th anniversary; reverting afterwards to continue as the Centre’s Hon. Treasurer.
Not only was he one of life’s real gentlemen, charming, genial, reliable, trustworthy and knowledgeable. He was also a successful entrepreneur forming his own company, CSD Supplies in Albert Road, Bristol, in conjunction with Sandy his wife, who looked after the accounts. They were successful and expanded into new premises in Barton Manor off Midland Road in the late 1980’s. His speciality was the fitting and supplying of new replacement brake linings for a whole range of light, heavy and specialist vehicles.
His company was a valued supplier to the City of Bristol Transport fleet of that period, among others. On one occasion a Dennis Phoenix refuse vehicle suffered from persistent “Brake squeal” which was proving difficult to stop. It was considered that if the new linings could be profiled to the brake drum radial shape rather than allowing time and use to bed them in, the squealing may be reduced. David’s Company agreed to carry out the profiling and indeed this proved to be the solution and the squealing was eliminated. Subsequent lining replacements on the fleet were all profiled to provide better braking efficiency from the time of replacement rather than relying on the traditional method of using the vehicle to bed the linings into the brake drum profile. This was a contributor to the achievement of first time passes for the Bristol fleet at annual test.
By profession David had studied Accountancy, Law and Economics and so the role of Honorary Treasurer for Western Centre was straightforward and he kept the Centre’s finances in tip top shape. He completed his degree in Business Management at Bristol University and in addition was fluent in both Spanish and German. He, with his friend Bob Kennard were responsible for the Centre’s Social affairs at a time when annually the Centre held a Dinner and Dance at the Crest Hotel in North Bristol. This was a truly special event where David acted as Master of Ceremonies and his calling the audience to dinner probably still echoes around the room. He was really successful at persuading companies to donate prizes for the raffle and along with Sandy who organised the issue of these to successful raffle ticket holders with flourish and aplomb.
Each year a different charity was nominated, as recipients of the surplus made from the event and somehow David always managed to roundup the figure for a large presentation cheque, to a figure in the thousands of pounds. This was then presented to the guests of the charity to enable them to carry on their good works. Air Ambulance, hospitals and child connected charities all benefited and were most appreciative for the thousands of pounds for which David and the Centre were responsible for raising. Without his efforts and generosity, they would all have been worse off.
One of his proud possessions was his purchase of a red telephone box when British Telecom decided to discontinue the Sir Giles Gilbert Scott design from national use. Some of us wondered if he was considering turning it into a Tardis type time machine and we understand it is still parked at their home in Churchill. Whether or not he completed the conversion is not known. In his relaxed moments he would not be seen without a 'Hamlet' cheroot, as a less harmful pleasure than smoking cigarettes. His other valued possession was an XJ maroon Jaguar saloon of which he had owned four at different times, with a special number plate '807 SAE' SAE being the Society of Automotive Engineers. He was a lovely man whose company was always a pleasure, intelligent, knowledgeable, humorous and is sorely missed by his family and his many friends. We send our sincere condolences to Sandy and their two sons, John and James. Rest in Peace and God bless you. Mrs Sandy Kelly has chosen the Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust if anybody would like to make a donation in David's memory.