Remembering Tom Hinds - architect of local management of schools

Tom Hinds was singular, however you may choose to define it. 

An imposing physical presence; an incisive intellect; creatively meticulous; having a prodigiously effective work capacity; boundary pushing; bar-raising; expecting commitment; self-analytical in practice; modelling reflective practice to enable effective collaboration; encouraging considered risk; analytical when outcomes went awry. 

In the mid-eighties when I encountered him as the senior leader in Cambridgeshire Local Authority (LA), responsible for orientation of new employees, he was everything that was unstereotypical of people’s understanding of a local government officer. 

In fact my encounter prior to making the move from the London Borough of Ealing to Cambridgeshire set the tone for our continuing relationship. During a Society of Education Officers meeting, hosted by Ealing, my then line manager suggested to Tom that as a valued member of his team, Cambridgeshire should look after me. Tom clearly and directly responded that I was responsible for myself and should be creating and managing my own path.