David Gibson

15.10.2026

It was with great sadness that we learned of the passing of David Gibson. David was a staunch advocate for the building control profession, not just in the UK but globally, and was a very well-liked and respected colleague.

David’s career in building control started in 1980 when he became a Senior Building Control Officer with Mid-Bedfordshire District Council. He then moved down to Devon for a spell at North Devon District Council before relocating back to the SE, where he was Chief Building Control Officer at Dacorum Borough Council in Hemel Hempstead. This was where he employed me (as well as many others still working in building control) as a trainee and where I first experienced the dynamo that was Dave Gibson.

He was always passionate about recruitment, training, and development of staff, including the delivery of technical papers and training for the Hertfordshire Building Control Group. He served as Chairman and Secretary for the Society of Chief Building Regulations Officers (SOCBRO)- the forefather of the District Surveyors Association.

In 1990 this passion for development saw him become a lecturer at Hertfordshire College of Building, an NVQ 4 assessor and a programme manager and consultant to the University of Luton. In 1997 he became a member of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee and chaired the working parties on Part A (Structure), Part B Fire Safety and the delivery of new regulations.

He co-ordinated the delivery of events, seminars and workshops throughout England and Wales to deliver both new regulations and training and sat on many UK committees as well as becoming Governor and past Vice President of the World Organisation of Building Officials (WOBO) promoting construction excellence and contributing to the development and delivery of technical and legislative development and delivery in both the national and international context.

David’s next milestone was his appointment as Chief Executive of the Association of Building Engineers, a position he held from Sep 1997 to Nov 2009, which is probably where many of our members will know him from. This role included the development and delivery of training and technical papers within the UK and overseas, and the promotion of building control and engineering as a valued profession.

He did all of this and much more with the support and love of his family, particularly his devoted wife Christine. Many of us feel very lucky to have been part of his world for at least a short time, and he will be greatly missed by so many.

David's funeral will be on Monday 2 November 2026 at 1.00pm at Oak Chapel, The Vale Cemetery and Crematorium, Butterfield Green Road, Luton, followed by a gathering at Putteridge Bury, Hitchin Road, Luton. Family flowers only.

Please email christine@tdrg.co.uk if you will be attending.

The service will also be streamed online: