The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) regrets to announce that Ted Clements, IAM Road Safety Adviser and former IAM Chief Examiner, died yesterday (11 December 2007) after a short illness.
Ted, 77, was a well-known figure in road safety. During his time as an IAM Examiner, Ted tested countless drivers and riders of all standards - literally, from royalty to racing drivers.
Nigel Mansell, now the IAM's President, Sir Stirling Moss and John Surtees were just some of the well-known names that Ted tested before they achieved advanced driver status.
Born and brought up in Norfolk, Ted was a lifelong supporter of Norwich
City and as recently as last month was trying to persuade one of the
"Canaries" to take an advanced driving test.
Ted received an MBE in 1989 for his services to road safety and he
regarded this as a highlight in his career, which started in 1953 when
he joined the Metropolitan Police. In 1960, Ted moved to the Met's
Traffic Division, which led to his lifelong interest and involvement in
road safety.
In 1965 Ted joined the IAM and started carrying out advanced tests for
the IAM in his spare time.
In 1978 he retired from the police and became the IAM's Deputy Chief
Examiner, succeeding Alec Jones in 1984 as Chief Examiner.
While he was attached to Hammersmith Police Station, Ted acted as police adviser for probably the first of many police TV series, "Dixon of Dock Green". It was also while he was a PC at Hammersmith that Ted dealt with a serious incident which he told colleagues sparked off his dedication to the road safety cause.
"It involved a pupil at the Royal Ballet School who lost both her legs
in an accident while crossing the road near the school," he said. As a
result, Ted asked for a transfer to Traffic Division where he became
involved in every aspect of road safety.
After he retired in 1996 as the IAM's Chief Examiner, Ted was given a
unique position in the road safety world when he was appointed the IAM's
part-time Road Safety Adviser. Ted also held honorary roles with other
organisations as diverse as Mobilise (formerly the Disabled Driving
Association) and the High Performance Club (HPC) and AIRSO. He was also a Freeman of the City of London.
When he retired from the IAM, colleagues commented at the time that Ted never seemed to age: he remained as passionate as he had ever been about the need to improve the standards of driving and motorcycle riding.
Ted lived in Effingham, Surrey. His wife Sadie died in 2006.
The couple were devoted to each other. He was a keen gardener and would regularly present his female colleagues at IAM House in Chiswick with fresh flowers.
David Kenworthy QPM, the IAM Chairman, said:
"Ted was always cheerful and delightful company. His dedication to good driving and riding was unswerving. He will be sorely missed by colleagues and all who knew him in the road safety world."
Ted's family have requested family flowers only; donations can be made to Cancer Research in Ted Clements' name, via the undertakers, Sherlock and Sons, Trellis House, 190 South Street, Dorking, RH4 2ES.
A FUNERAL SERVICE for Ted was well attended on Friday 21 December 2007.
To view the Book of Condolence click here
ENDS
