Paul E Garbutt, 1919 - 2008

• Biography

  Attribute	Value
  Biography	Paul E Garbutt was born in Westcliff-on-Sea on 28 September 1919. He started his railway career with the LMS on leaving school in 1934. He first worked in the Camden Goods Yard accounts office, later promoted to be the personal assistant to the LMS Vice President, Sir Harold Hartley. Paul's distinguished war service saw him rise to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Engineers. He worked in transport intelligence in the War Office, identifying bombing targets to disrupt German troop movements in France. Paul was posted to the Control Commission in Berlin in 1945, where he served with Anthony Bull, later London Transport's Vice Chairman. After the war, Paul joined London Transport (in part through Anthony Bull's influence) becoming involved in Underground railway planning; this included work on the late-1940s Railway Planning Working Party, which ultimately led to the Victoria Line. Paul held a number of railway planning posts from the 1950s through to the 1970s, including New Works Officer and Director of Transportation Policy working on several major projects including the planning of the Jubilee line, Victoria line and the Heathrow extension of the Piccadilly line. He was also involved with consultancy work worldwide and the setting up of LT's consultancy company: London Transport International. Metros around the world are a memorial to his thoughtful planning and influence. Paul retired from LT in the post of Chief Secretary (where he was deeply involved with LT's formal submissions and GLC relationships) in December 1978. It is said that Paul's eloquence in report writing was the envy of his British Rail colleagues in Ministry of Transport days, as LT had more projects approved than BR. Paul responded to criticism of an unpopular, angular style of Underground map by drawing a new version, restoring the map's elegant curves, to relieve intellectual boredom at home during the Christmas break in 1962. He can therefore be said to be one of the few people who have altered the course of the Thames - and the Circle Line. He used inside knowledge to write the book "London Transport and The Politicians" (Ian Allan 1985) showing the effects of wider political interference in London Transport affairs, especially during the Greater London Council period. Paul drew on his broader transport knowledge to write " World Metro Systems" (Capital Transport 1989, revised edition in 1997). On retiring from LT, Paul became active in London Transport Museum Friends, becoming a long-serving Committee member. He edited the Friends' newsletter for 17 years, proudly claiming in that role to have published more words than Charles Dickens. Paul served as a Friends Trustee until June 2008. Paul Garbutt died on 02 December 2008, at age 89.
  Employment	Employed by London Transport, 01/01/1947 - 31/12/1979 Designed maps for London Transport, 01/01/1964 - 31/12/1983
  Role	Staff, Artist,