Obituary: David Charles Lynn Wroe

Abstract

David Wroe was born on February 20th, 1942, and died on February 2nd, 2014, after a 16-month battle against pancreatic cancer. Professionally, he will best be remembered as a world expert on economic statistics, and particularly for his work on national accounts while Deputy Director of the Central Statistical Office (CSO). David was educated at Reigate Grammar school. He was awarded a Master of Arts degree in mathematics at Trinity College, Cambridge, a Certificate in Statistics at Trinity College, Oxford, and a Master of Science degree in computer science at Birkbeck College, London. In 1965, he began his long and successful career spanning 31 years in the Government Statistical Service, by joining the Ministry of Social Security. He transferred to the CSO in 1968 where, apart from 2 years in Zambia, and 2 years with the Royal Commission on Distribution of Income and Wealth, he remained until 1982. Initially, he worked in social statistics. In 1976, on promotion to Chief Statistician, he was posted to head the Balance of Payments branch and, 4 years later, to head the National Accounts branch. This period of David's career determined where he was to make his greatest contribution to government statistics—the UK's national accounts. Before making his real mark in this area, he was promoted again and transferred to the Department of the Environment as Director of Statistics, where he had a wide portfolio covering housing, land use, new towns, local government and environmental issues. In 1991, shortly after the publication of the Pickford report on the quality of the UK's economic statistics, David returned to the CSO as Deputy Director. As the single ‘national accounts director’ recommended by Pickford, he drove through and managed probably the most significant changes in the UK's national accounts systems ever undertaken, anticipating many of the changes that were later required by European Union legislation. In particular, he transformed the UK's national accounting system from one based on income and expenditure to one centred on output, supply–use and input–output methodology. Major improvements in the quality of gross domestic product and other national accounting aggregates soon followed and were widely welcomed by users. As Deputy Director, he also had responsibilities that were wider than national accounts. He worked closely with Bill McLennan, CSO Director from 1992 to 1995, in bringing about fundamental improvements in the management of both the Government Statistical Service and the CSO. After retirement in 1996, David was in demand as a consultant, advising governments on statistical matters, often at the highest levels. His clients included the European Union Commission, UK, Hungary, Croatia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Barbados. Most of these projects were in economic statistics, but he also provided advice on social statistics, such as population censuses. David was an active Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society. He was a member of Council from 1993 to 1998, as Vice-President from 1995 to 1998. He served on the Social Statistics, Finance and Professional Affairs committees and on the Charter Working Party. He was awarded the Companion of the Bath in 1997. Beyond work, David had a passion for sailing and often invited Government Statistical Service colleagues for a day sailing on the Medway. He shared this interest with his wife, Susan, as well as a love of cross-country skiing, rambling and visiting their house in France. Those who did not know him well sometimes saw him as reserved. His close friends found him approachable, understanding and generous, with a dry wit that brought a sparkle to conversations with him. He had a sharp intellect, a clear vision and exceptional determination, all of which were essential to the success of his career. Most importantly, he was a ‘family’ man. A happy marriage of nearly 50 years was blessed with three daughters, all born during their stay in Zambia, and with six grandchildren.