The chief executive of the Birmingham- based Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has died at the age of 57.
John Howard OBE was behind a number of safety campaigns during his 20 years with the Edgbaston-based charity, including the factory fitting of plugs to electrical appliances.
He was appointed chief executive in January last year but joined RoSPA 20 years ago as director of home and leisure safety.
He later became responsible for road safety as well and, in 1992, for all areas of RoSPA's campaigning, including safety at work.
Mr Howard was responsible for promoting change in a wide cross-section of fields, from the need for fire-safe furniture and factory-fitted plugs on electrical goods to the latest law banning the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving. Mr Howard received his OBE for services to safety.
John Howard was born in Lancashire on August 23 1947 and his family moved to Birmingham when he was three years old.
He attended Hallfield Preparatory School in the city and subsequently went to Rossall public school in Lancashire.
He joined Cadbury Schweppes and studied for business qualifications, including company secretary. He also worked at Imperial Foods.
For many years he was involved with the St Basils project in Birmingham. Mr Howard was active at St Mary's Church, Handsworth.
