John Offord, the founder and first editor of Lighting & Sound International (LSi) magazine, former Chief Executive of PLASA, and tireless supporter of the live events industry in the UK, has died after a short illness.
Born in London in 1942, he joined his family's printing business in Eastbourne. In 1972, in partnership with theatre producer Charles Vance, he began publishing the British Theatre Directory, a resource for touring productions which listed major UK professional theatre venues and professionals.
In 1985, he began producing Lighting & Sound International (LSi), the monthly magazine for members of PLASA (the Professional Lighting and Sound Association), and other live event professionals. In 1997, he became Chief Executive of PLASA, and later began producing Entertainment Technology magazine (ETnow.com). (Find a lighthearted profile of John Offord on ETnow.com here.)
The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) said of him, "Through his work, he provided an invaluable service to the community, ensuring that technical standards, news, and insights were accessible to professionals across the UK and beyond. His contributions helped shape the professional landscape for generations of theatre technicians and venue operators."
Offord was an honorary member of the ALPD (The Association for Lighting Production and Design) and in 2016 received the Knight of Illumination Awards Enrico Caironi Award for Lifetime Recognition for his work in the industry.
He is survived by his four children Andrew, Angela, Adrian and Katie, and his wife Lesley.