BPA 50th anniversary year Founding members The success of any association is the sum of all its members, and there have been many people, organisations and businesses throughout the 50-year history of the BPA who have given generously of their time and skills to aid the professionalism of the sector. There are two, however, without whom we would not have the BPA as we know it today: Ernest Davies and John Heasman Ernest Davies Ernest Davies early career was in journalism: after World War II he became the North American service organiser for the BBC. He also wrote political pamphlets for the Labour Party and Fabian Society on the nationalisation of transport, its future structure and policy, advocating, in particular, for the need for an overall transport policy. In 1945, Ernest entered parliament, representing the Enfield Division of Middlesex, and almost immediately was invited to be chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Partys Transport Group. He held the position from 1945 to 1950, and again between 1951 and 1959. From 1950-51, he was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign Office, deputy first to Ernest Bevin and then to Herbert Morrison. As the founder publisher of Traffic Engineering and Control, he edited the journal from its first issue, in May 1960, until January 1976. With the late Kenneth Bloom, Ernest became a major figure in the founding and subsequent operation of John Heasman (right) with David Chesterfield (BPA accounts manager) Award and bursary The Ernest Davies Award for writing was set up in 1994 to encourage communications on all aspects of parking. It is an annual competition that invites written and for the first time this year filmed or recorded submissions about any parking-related matter. The John Heasman Bursary for Research into Parking was originally awarded annually and split between individuals undertaking research into parking and traffic management issues. Nowadays its used to fund shortterm internships and partnership with universities. You can find out more at britishparking.co.uk the British Parking Association (he is one of the subscribers listed on 20 April 1970 in the British Parking Association Memorandum and Articles of Association). He went on to become secretary, as well as seminar organiser and general factotum, running the Association from his Newman Street office. The Parking Newsletter, edited by Keith Lumley at that time, was published from that address. Ernest became President of the Association in 1977, an office he held until 1980, when he was elected to Honorary Membership of the BPA. His awareness of political and planning trends, together with his many contacts in those fields, proved of immense value to the Association. Without him, there would be no BPA. Remembering John Heasman Jane Hack, BPA former chief operating officer and company secretary It was during a family Christmas lunch in 1992 when my brother-in-law, David Chesterfield, asked if I would like some part-time work creating mailing labels for a spring seminar to be held in London by an organisation that he had started helping with its accounts. Having said yes, I went along to meet John Heasman. John was an immediately likeable man, who explained that the Association of which he was a senior member was trying to re-establish itself as the voice of the parking sector. A few mailing labels developed into the setting up of a major parking exhibition Parkex and onwards to the growing of membership and the BPA becoming the established professional body it is today. John was was an enormously energetic individual, and was often seen dashing around mending, fixing and building, always with a smile on his face. He had a real interest in the people around him and a thirst for perfection, whatever the subject. He had spent some years as a radio presenter for BBC Sussex, which accounts for his easy style and ability to communicate with people. Before working for the BPA, he was a traffic engineer for Brighton and Hove Council, giving him the skills required to take forward the work of the Association. I remember with fondness our team (John, David and myself) and meetings in Johns tiny home office, surrounded by filing trays, cabinets and drawers full of useful objects and stuff. There was barely room for the three chairs required, but it was here that we held many discussions on exhibition layouts, stand sales and catering requirements. There were no computers, no databases and no internet but there was heaps of enthusiasm and fun! Until the day John retired, he exuded energy and enthusiasm. He is greatly missed. Alasdair Macmillan, BPA President 1994-95 I first met John when he was BPA President (1989-90) and my first impressions were: positive, enthusiastic, straighttalking, hands on! 44 britishparking.co.uk PN Dec 2020 pp44-45 BPA great.indd 44 23/11/2020 13:26