Gordon Read obituary

Other lives: Chief probation officer who worked to change people’s views about offenders

My colleague Gordon Read, who has died aged 89, was chief probation officer of Devon. An empathetic leader with high expectations, reflecting those he applied to himself, he believed strongly in equality.

While serving as chair of the Association of Chief Officers of Probation (1992-93), Gordon melded his diverse professional strengths for the benefit of the whole service, and worked to temper the dismissive general discourse about offenders.

Born in Kingston, Kent, Gordon was adopted at the age of 12 by Edith (nee Cook), a cleaner, and Albert Read, a builder. Growing up in Suffolk, Gordon won a scholarship to Framlingham college. Following national service in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, he studied English at Peterhouse, Cambridge, graduating in 1960. During this time he met Val Exall, a fellow Cambridge student, and they married in 1961, settling in South Kensington, London.

Gordon then studied for a diploma in social studies at the London School of Economics and attended the Home Office specialised probation course. In 1962 he began working as a probation officer with the South West London Probation Service in Wallington, dealing with young offenders. In 1966 he was seconded full-time to study on the Tavistock advanced course in social work.

Appointed to the Inner London Probation Service in 1968, he took up the senior probation officer post at Pentonville prison, responsible for resettlement. In 1972, he was promoted to assistant chief with the Hereford and Worcester Probation Service, and subsequently became West Midlands regional staff development officer. The imaginative courses that Gordon created added richness to the service’s work.

In 1981 he was appointed chief probation officer for Devon, and led the management team, of which I was a member, until 1996. Colleagues admired Gordon’s sharp and perceptive political intellect – he was challenging, sometimes provocative, but always considerate.

Gordon was sceptical but never cynical. He was loyal to his staff and could be counted on to celebrate others’ achievements, maintaining an interest in former colleagues’ lives following retirement in 1996.

He and Val had settled in Exeter, and Gordon went on to do a master’s in creative writing at Plymouth University, allowing his longstanding interests in poetry and short stories to flourish, and publishing three verse collections. His active community involvement continued until his last days, including campaigning for the NHS and for restorative justice.

Gordon and Val had two daughters, Julia and Lucetta. In 1982 Julia died in a climbing accident. Profound grief was expressed in his poem The Daughter’s Room.

Gordon is survived by Val, Lu and a grandson, Andrew.