Editorial director and founder of Transport + Energy Alec Peachey provides a tribute to broadcaster and campaigner Quentin Willson, who has died aged 68.
On Saturday afternoon I heard the devastating news that motoring broadcaster, transport campaigner and friend of Transport + Energy Quentin Willson had passed away.
Although I’ve only known Quentin over the last few years, I’d class him as a friend and in my view he’s an absolute legend.
Quentin has always been very generous with his time and was a valued member of the Transport + Energy editorial board.
I was first introduced to him by my good friend Ben Kilbey when Quentin was doing some work for Britishvolt as a brand ambassador at the time. I asked Ben if Quentin would consider joining the editorial board. At the time I’d just launched the brand and if I’m honest I thought they’d be no chance he’d join.
How wrong I was. After joining the board Quentin went on to speak and present at each of our last three T+E Forum events and brilliantly presented last year’s Transport + Energy Awards. He helped raise the profile of what we were trying to do, and I’ll always be grateful.
I was lucky enough to spend a couple of nights away with Quentin and his lovely son Max at a previous Fully Charged Show (now Everything Electric) alongside Ben. I’ll never forget that time and the fact that Quentin went out of his way to tell me that I had helped him as much as he’d helped me. A true mark of the man in the fact that he was so humble and kind.
What a career he had. What a communicator, campaigner and interviewer he was.
I had no idea he was ill, so this has come as a real shock to me.
It is difficult to put into words the impact he’s had on me both professionally and personally.
Quentin was an outstanding man and the influence he had on not just mine, but many lives is testament to that.
The loss of Quentin will leave a massive hole in the electric vehicle and motoring sector, but his legacy will live on. Us and others will make sure of that.
Transport + Energy sends heartfelt condolences to his family and may he rest in peace. Gone but never forgotten.
Alec Peachey, Founder and Editorial Director, Transport + Energy
