Obituary: Tom Punt
Punt retired from NOP in 1993, before it became GfK NOP, after 20 years in social research. He had previously been at MIL where he worked on many notable projects, included the 1981 Greater London Transportation Survey. His early working life was spent in advertising, with stints at Lintas and DDB.
Punt graduated with 1st Class Honours from Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he was a Robert Owen Bishop Scholar in history and political theory. He maintained a keen interest in contemporary history throughout his life and was a regular political blogger.
He served on the Steering Committee of the Research Network from its inception in 2002, first as co-editor (with Phyllis Vangelder) of the newsletter, then as webmaster, and rarely missed the group’s lunches. He will be greatly missed by everyone who enjoyed his sense of humour there and, of course, by his family.
A requiem mass for Punt will be held at St Michael’s RC Church in Ashtead at 9.30am on 3 July.
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2 Comments
Lawrence Bailey
10 years ago
Tom was the subject of the Research Network Oral History of Market Research interview No.14, late last year. The sad news of his passing can at least be coupled with the knowledge that the recording is safe, and in due course the conversation with Tom will take its place in the published archive. It was a conversation that not only covered the factual content of Tom's career but also revealed his sense of humour, and deep appreciation of the many people he met along the way.
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Nick Southwood
10 years ago
I first started in market research back in the 80s as a telephone interviewer at MIL Research which was when I first met Tom. He was one of the most decent and lovely chaps one could hope to meet, friendly and approachable regardless of my lowly position as CATI interviewer and always ready with a funny one-liner. One of life's good men, a true gentleman. Thank you Tom
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