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Graham Wattley

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Graham Richard Wattley (12 March 1930 – 28 November 2017) was a British public servant who was the Director of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre of the Department of Transport in the United Kingdom between 1985 and 1990.[1]

Career

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After finishing his secondary education at Devonport High School for Boys, Wattley served for a year as a pilot officer in the RAF, before beginning a career in the Civil Service.[1] He initially served within the Ministry of Works between 1950 and 1971, before moving to the Department of the Environment (1971–1973) and then the Department of Transport.[1] Most of his time with the Department of Transport was spent with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre (now the DVLA), of which he was appointed Director in 1985.[1] Under his leadership, the public reputation and efficiency of the DVLC improved, and he also worked to raise the sense of corporate identity among the staff.[2] He retired from his position in 1990.[1]

Personal life

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Wattley later resided in Swansea with his second wife.[1] His first wife, Yvonne (née Heale), whom he married in 1953, died in 1990.[1] Wattley then remarried in 1997, to Rose Daniel (née Dawson).[1] He had three children from his first marriage.[1]

Amongst his interests, Wattley listed walking, cooking and birdwatching.[1] This first interest led him to spend ten years as a Walk Leader for HF Holidays.[1] He was also a Christian, serving as a member of the governing body of the Church in Wales between 1992 and 1994 and a Warden of St Paul's Church, Sketty from 1991 to 1996.[1] He continued to be involved in this church, and was the chair of the Sketty PCC.[3]

Wattley died on 28 November 2017, at the age of 87.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 'Wattley, Graham Richard', Who Was Who 2023, A & C Black, 2011; online edn, Oxford University Press, 18 December 2017 (accessed 21 November 2023).
  2. ^ "Swansea gears up to become agent of reform". The Times. 13 June 1988.
  3. ^ "Parish of Sketty - P.C.C." Archived from the original on 31 March 2012.