When government cuts to the railways in the early 1960s meant that highly skilled engineers were suddenly faced with unemployment, Prickett set up the heavy engineering department at Trowbridge College.
“We had 12 weeks to get a technical college set up,” he continued.
“Teaching was a new field but what we were teaching was what I had trained in, and I was doing what I had enjoyed on the railways.
“Ever since I had my own clockwork railway at the age of 11, I was interested in railways and transport.”
Prickett also entered the world of politics, standing as both a parish and town councillor as well as a stint as Mayor of Westbury.
He was appointed as Wiltshire Council’s portfolio holder for public transport, working closely alongside TransWilts until being promoted to director in 2017.