Multiple tributes have been paid to Institute of Transport Administration (IoTA) President and longstanding coach and bus industry figure Alan Whittington, who died soon after suffering a fall on 14 December 2025. He was 76.
Mr Whittington had been a member of IoTA for 50 years, including for over two decades as Chairman of its Education and Membership Committee and then as President since 2016. Before the latter he held the position of Deputy President for nine years. He leaves his partner Rena, three adult children, and 11 grandchildren.
Mr Whittington was born in Hendon in 1949. He was often asked whether he was related to Dick Whittington. His answer was “yes.” While the famous Lord Mayor of London had no children, his elder brother Robert did, and it was to Robert that Mr Whittington traced his family tree.
IoTA notes how he spearheaded reform and reinvigoration of the Institute, bringing in new talent and methods. Chairman Greg Powell describes Mr Whittington as “a dedicated leader and passionate advocate for the transport sector” whose vision, expertise and commitment “shaped our Institute and inspired countless professionals throughout his career.”
Continues Mr Powell: “His contributions to transport administration will have a lasting impact on our industry. Our thoughts are with Alan’s family and friends during this difficult time, and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him.”
After leaving school, Mr Whittington became an apprentice engraver with The Lettering Centre. In an early professional involvement with the transport world, his work during three years there saw him create signage for the under-construction Euston railway station in London.
He also engraved the commemorative plaque affixed to the London Underground train car that was driven by Queen Elizabeth II when she opened the first section of the Victoria Line in 1969.
From there, Mr Whittington moved into food sales before joining National Bus Company (NBC) subsidiary London Country as a driver in 1972. It soon recognised his skills in teaching and leadership and over the following nine years he progressed via the NBC training scheme.
In 1977, he became London Country’s youngest driving instructor and then its senior driving instructor. That was followed by a spell as Training Manager and finally as Acting Depot Manager at Garston garage in Watford.
After joining IoTA in 1975, Mr Whittington spent the next four years studying to pass the Institute’s comprehensive series of annual examinations, providing the equivalent of the current-day Transport Manager CPC.
From there he attended the Polytechnic of North West London, graduating in 1979 having studied Transport Economics and Management. That led him to manage a variety of transport operations in the public and private sectors across passenger and freight.
Those included three years as Area Transport Operations Manager with the Inner London Education Authority in charge of its passenger transport division in East London with 88 buses and 40 minibuses; and then a position in freight transport, where he turned a lossmaking operation into one that returned a £500,000 annual profit.
Mr Whittington returned to local government in 1987 as Transport Manager with the London Borough of Barnet, serving as Head of Transport for Social and Community Services.
In 1991 he formed Professional Transport Services (PTS), which he ran until his death. PTS leveraged Mr Whittington’s extensive knowledge and saw him meet and make friends with hundreds of people as he advised on compliance and best practice and represented operators at Public Inquiry.
PTS also delivered systems audits and Transport Manager CPC training alongside refresher and O-Licence awareness courses. Mr Whittington additionally provided ‘mystery traveller’ services, along with wider guidance and advice.
Beyond IoTA, his professional memberships included Fellow of the Institute of Business Consulting and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. From 2007 he was a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman in the Worshipful Company of Carmen in the City of London for his services to the transport industry.
Outside work, Mr Whittington’s interests included studying the history of all types of transport, travel, politics, and gathering what is termed “a fund of useless information.” He was also a former governor of both the Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals Trust and Coppice Primary School in Chigwell.
The funeral will be held in West Norfolk on a date yet to be set. All will be welcome. To be notified of further details, an email should be sent to walpole1949@gmail.com. An online book of remembrance can also be accessed, where multiple tributes have already been left.
