I first worked with Steve in 1990, when I became his second HEO and he was an administrative assistant having left school at 16 and joined the Civil Service the previous September.  When I first worked with him was just 17 and looked so young so many people thought he was on work experience. So many of the qualities he brought to his later posts were evident then - his strong work ethic, his commitment to meeting people's expectations and his methodical and organised approach that meant he could always find stuff. At the time we were part of the Secretariat for the DoT management board. I remember I arrived 30 minutes before its meeting to find that a Minister had bagged the meeting room. Steve said he'd found another meeting room and asked Jean in PO to provide the coffee and tea, even though it wasn't in a room they normally did this. He was concerned to check with me that he'd done the right thing. An early example of his ability to identify a problem, its solution and then deliver, but always checking. I know others for, whom he worked found he made their work so much easier and effective.  He was highly valued by all his colleagues.  On one occasion, while an administration office, the Deputy Director took him to brief a Minister, as Steve knew all the details on a policy issue and had done the work.  This reflect the confidence colleagues could have in him.  A sad loss for his family and friend, as well as  all who knew him and that was nearly everyone in DfT and a lot of people across Whitehall and highway authorities in England. RIP