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03 April 08
PROFESSOR JOHN BEAVIS – 1928 - 2008
The Tourism Society was saddened to learn that one of its founding fellows, John Beavis FTS, recently passed away. John joined the Society shortly after its conception on 24th May 1978.
John was born in Bristol in July 1928, and showed an aptitude for the academic life from an early age.
On leaving Bristol Grammar he was apprenticed to an engineering company of a family friend, but left when he received his call-up papers to do National Service which he completed in the RAF.
After National Service, John went to Bristol University and on graduating, took up a managerial role with NAFFI – Navy, Army and Air Force Institute - which operated shops and canteens on military establishments in this country and overseas. |
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In 1963, he joined the Department of Hotel and Catering Management at Battersea College of Technology as a lecturer in accounting and hotel reception. He was also Director for the Centre for Inter-Hotel Comparison, which analysed and collated operational data from the industry.
John was also co-author of the book 'A Manual of Hotel Reception' which he wrote with his friend and colleague, the late Professor Rik Medlik. It was published in 1967.
In 1966, Battersea received its Charter and became the University of Surrey. In 1969 the department moved to its new home overlooking Guildford and John and his wife Anne also moved to live in the town.
At that time the only two universities in the UK to offer degrees in Hotel and Catering Management was Surrey and Strathclyde in Glasgow.
When, in 1972, John was offered the post of Director of the Scottish Hotel School at Strathclyde. He and Anne packed their bags and headed north to live at Bearsden, a suburb of Glasgow .
At Strathclyde, he was appointed Professor and remained there for several years and was responsible for the University's first post graduate course in tourism.
In 1974, John's work in hotel and catering education was recognised by the professional body of the industry, when he was elected President of the then Hotel Catering and Institutional Management Association (now the Institute of Hospitality). John was the first academic to be elected to this post in preference to a member of the industry.
After Strathclyde, John and Anne returned to Surrey, living in Farnham. He then accepted a position with the American International College at Bushey, Hertfordshire, as head of the Hotel and Catering Department. He remained at the College until his well earned retirement in the early 1990's.
In his retirement, John and Anne enjoyed travel, he was a keen member of the Farnham Conservative Club where, I am told, he was a no mean hand at billiards and snooker. They were both enthusiastic members of the Phyllis Court Club in Henley where John became proficient in the art of croquet.
John was a gentleman, loved and respected by all who knew him. He was always on hand to help undergraduates in his charge and provided counselling when they had problems. He had a cheerful disposition and could always be trusted by anyone who confided in him, he enjoyed a joke and it is said he never lost his temper.
I first met John in 1963 when he was at Battersea and ever since have looked upon him and Anne as dear friends, sharing many happy times together.
I know, I speak for you all when I say "he will be greatly missed."
Michael Walton
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