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Obituary
Douglas James Corbett 1923 - 2007
Formally Principal Careers Officer for Devon and South West ICG member
Doug started his career in Staffordshire as a clerical assistant in the Youth Employment service and worked his way up to becoming Principal Careers Officer for Exeter and then in 1974 for setting up and developing the Careers Service across Devon.
From the outset Doug encouraged his staff to undertake professional development and he was one of the founding members of the South West Branch of the Institute of Careers Officer (later to become the ICG). The mid to late '70s were halcyon days for young enthusiastic careers officers who under Doug's direction were able to develop a new service and were allowed the space to take responsibility for innovations and improvements in careers guidance.
Doug cared about young people and whether it was in a one to one situation or shaping policy that would help and support young people, it would be fair to say that Doug, improved either directly or indirectly, the life chances of tens of thousands of young people.
Doug delegated responsibility and encouraged individuals, trusting them to deliver the best service; in creating a Devon Careers Service from a mix of Local Authority and Department of Employment services he used this sensible approach to create a service, which was recognised nationally.
Professionally Doug was involved with the South West Branch of the ICO but encouraged others to take responsibility and gain from the benefit of being part of a national organisation and learning from others across the country and internationally.
People will remember Doug for his hearty laugh, constant smile and his ambition to smoke for England, and for anyone who travelled with him in his Vauxhall Cavalier, his love of speed.
On 4th January former colleagues, friends and relatives gathered at Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth to celebrate the life of Doug,' and as one of those who was appointed by him in 1974, to remember a kind, generous and warm hearted person who was responsible for a world class careers service and enable some of us to be part of that.
P. W. Renshaw |