Former ABTA treasurer Howard Neve, managing director of Town’s Travel, died on Sunday after a long illness.
Neve, in his late 70s, and had been on National Council – the forerunner to the Board of Directors, was treasurer between 1985-1989 and sat on various ABTA committees.
He was a founder member of the ‘Old Abtarians’ – set up in 2000 – and was an active North Western Regional Committee Member for 20 years between 1974-1994 – holding the position of chairman between 1978-1979. He was a member of the Retail Agents’ Council from 1978 and held the role of vice-chairman between 1988-1989.
Neve stood on the finance committee throughout the ’80s and was chairman between 1985-1989. He stood on the bonding committee and was voted as chairman on the membership and railways committees on numerous occasions.
ABTA president Justin Fleming paid tribute to Neve, describing him as “a great raconteur” who lived life to the full.
“He was a well-known and well-respected character in the travel industry,” he said. “Although a successful and hardworking businessman, he was dedicated to his roles at ABTA. After a full decade of commitments to the association he promised to leave ABTA politics behind for good and concentrate his efforts on his immaculate garden. He will be greatly missed.”
by Phil Davies
