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John Gillham 1917-2009
John Charles Gillham
was born in Ealing on 5th July 1917 and christened in St John's Church
in West Ealing. Always an Ealing man, he attended Little Ealing
Infants and Junior School when he resided at 2 Birbeck Road, South
Ealing. In 1927 the family moved to Gunnersbury Park - this was a
brand new dwelling, and John lived in that house for the rest of his
life. He won a scholarship in the 11 plus exam for Ealing County
School for Boys on Ealing Green. He passed matriculation and had a
year in the sixth form. He spent a short time as a solicitor's clerk
before starting a seven year apprenticeship with London Transport at
Chiswick Works where he worked as a draughtsman. He subsequently was
employed by a firm making railway fittings.
John travelled widely
at home and abroad; he made detailed maps of routes covered on family
touring holidays, pointing out the blank areas of Britain when
planning the next. He was a great believer in public transport - from
the Welsh mining valleys to a circuit of India by train. JCG (as he
liked to be known) made 503 dyeline maps of tram and trolleybus
systems both in this country and other parts of the world. He had a
gift of soon working out which was north, south, east and west in any
city that he visited and his maps have been a wonderful source of
reference to those writing books. John had interests in many forms of
transport; buses, trams, trolleybuses, trains, London underground and
canals and extensively photographed them. He wanted to be a transport
journalist and his wish was fulfilled as he wrote a number of books
about Britain's tramway systems, the first of which was called 'Great
British Tramway Networks' - this was in conjunction with Wingate H
Bett. The book that made him famous was titled 'London Transport's
Double-deck Buses' which was published by Ian Allan in 1949. On the
front cover was a picture of an RTW bus on route 144 - in fact it was
this book that was the precursor on London Transport vehicles.
John was a sprightly
man with a sharp mind and a great sense of wit. He accommodated people
in their thirst for knowledge and photographs. Transport enthusiasts
throughout the country will greatly miss this man who was respected by
all. At the age of 91 he died peacefully in his sleep on 22nd March
2009. He is survived by his sister Mary to whom we offer our sincere
condolences.
Hugh Taylor.
Any donations please to the Johannesburg
589 Fund.
This is a 1948, 3 axle double deck
trolleybus returning to the UK from South Africa. Due at Southampton
at the end of April 2009. John was particularly interested in the
success of this project.
Cheques payable to "Johannesburg 589
Fund".
Please send cheques to "Oakwood Press,
P.O. Box 13, Usk, Mon., NP15 1YS, to be forwarded to the 589 Fund.
A website for this project will be
established shortly.
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