Geoffrey Claydon CB † honored by Birmingham tram naming

Geoffrey Claydon CB LLB MinstTA CMILT, who died last June at the age of 94, was honoured on 2 July when a West Midlands Metro tram was named after him. The short ceremony was carried out by Cllr Sandeep Shingadia of Transport for the West Midlands and attended by representatives of the Light Rail Transit Association, Tramway Museum Society, Tramway & Light Railway Society, UK Tram, the Office of Road and Rail and Lord Faulkner of Worcester. 

 

Geoffrey, who served as President of all three societies also made his mark as the senior civil servant responsible for drafting the Transport & Works Act and various regulations that form the backbone of every tramway in Great Britain. After he retirement he represented the Heritage Railway Society in its dealings with government agencies, including the Railway Inspectorate. He was born and schooled in Birmingham where his passion for tramways began, a passion that went on Ito shape the future of tramway across the UK. The naming of the West Midlands Tram honors his remarkable contribution to the industry, the region and the people it serves.