David Richard Hall Sawers (1931 – 2025)
On behalf of the Worthing Society Committee I am deeply saddened to report that our
esteemed colleague David Sawers has passed away. David was a true conservationist who
served on our Committee for over twenty years. He took an active part in the Consultations
to designate the South Downs National Park and successfully lobbied to include the Castle
Goring estate within the boundary. He was also influential in protecting the ancient
woodland at Titnore Lane and preserving Goring Greensward for the town. David held an
important role on the Committee as our Policy Adviser on planning matters. He was a great
help to me, personally, and gave valuable information and support in respect of the recent
Chatsmore Farm Public Inquiry. He was much respected by our associate groups and in our
dealings with the Worthing Planning Department.
Born in 1931 to Edward and Madeline Sawers, David attended Monkton Coombe School in
Bath, followed by Westminster School and Christ Church College, Oxford, where he
obtained BA (Hons), an MA in Politics and Philosophy and Economics (PPE) and became a
Research Assistant to Professor to John Jewkes. David was a Journalist for The Economist
(1959-64) and a Visiting Fellow, Princeton University 1964-65. He then went on to a
distinguished career, becoming an Economic Adviser to the Government on Aviation and
Technology. This was followed by a period in the Under Secretary Departments of Industry
and Trade and Consumer Protection, then the Under Secretary of State Departments of
Environment and Transport (1976 – 1983). David then undertook the role of Principal
Research Fellow at the Technical Change Centre until 1986. A man of great intellectual
ability, David was also a published author whose works included:- The Sources of Invention
and The Technical Development of Modern Aviation plus numerous articles in the press on
politics, aviation and heritage conservation. On retiring, he moved to East Preston to care
for his elderly mother.
During his later years he gave freely of his time and extensive expertise to various
community groups, becoming Chairman of the East Preston and Kingston Preservation
Society (2000 – 2021) and chaired the Forum of Arun District Amenity Groups plus the
Angmering-on-Sea Residents Association. David had a lifetime interest in ballet and opera
as well as appreciating music and the visual arts. He also engaged with the natural world
and animal welfare, supporting local animal charities.
David was a man of great integrity and intellect. In his ‘Who’s Who Entry’ he used the term
’environmental campaigner and writer’ to describe the later years of his life. David will be
very much missed by his family, friends, fellow conservationists, and of course by his
Worthing Society colleagues.
Susan Belton
Worthing Society Chairman
August 2025
Obituary – David Sawers 1931-2025
