Former Volvo Bus UK Product Planning Manager and Corporate Spokesman, Adrian Wickens, 65, collapsed and died suddenly yesterday (21 May) while on a walking holiday in the south west with his wife Cathy. He also leaves a grown-up son and daughter.
Highly respected and well-known throughout the industry, he retired in September 2015 with a presentation on the Volvo stand at Coach & Bus Live at the NEC.
Having worked at Volvo Bus for 42 years he was also chairman of the SMMT Bus & Coach Section for 10 years from 2004, and was heavily involved with the Low Carbon Vehicle partnership and CPT Suppliers Group.
Volvo Bus, led in the UK by MD Nick Page, says: “Everyone at Volvo Bus and the wider Volvo family is shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of Adrian Wickens.
“Adrian was a much liked and highly respected figure within the Volvo Bus organisation as well as throughout the bus industry in the UK and around the world.
“He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and worked with him.
“The company would like to express its heartfelt condolences to Adrian’s wife Cathy, his children and all his family and friends at this very sad and difficult time.”
One of the most important changes during Adrian’s time was the move to ‘greener’ buses offering lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions.
To this end, he was involved in the development of environmentally-friendly vehicles including gas and more latterly, hybrid and electric hybrid.
Originally from Old Windsor he went to University College London, graduating with a Mechanical Engineering degree and then a Masters in ergonomics.
His career began with Park Royal Vehicles (by then part of British Leyland) B15 Titan bus project, initially in the drawing office.
Some of his key achievements included helping to design the upper saloon roof and upper saloon seating layout of the New York Atlantean double-deckers.
He also worked at Volvo’s Gothenburg, Sweden, HQ on a number of projects including the launch of the B12M/B12B coach range.
Funeral arrangements will be notified in due course.
