Beard Construction’s former managing director Alan Beard, who worked for the family company for 71 years, has died.<\/p>\n
The construction company said Beard, who was the third generation to lead the organisation, died peacefully at home, aged 91.<\/p>\n
Alan joined in January 1950, aged 17, when the company was led by his father, Geoffrey.<\/p>\n
He became Beard\u2019s managing director in 1971, and helped to grow the company’s turnover to \u00a3200m, before retiring in 2021.<\/p>\n
His lifelong commitment to the company is a family trait \u2013 his grandfather and company founder, Edward William Beard, holds the World Record for longest career as a builder after he retired at 103.<\/p>\n
Beard completed many high-profile projects under Alan\u2019s stewardship. These included The Bishop Edward King Chapel at Cuddesdon, an impressive elliptical building with a lattice-effect limestone exterior, which was the Sterling Prize runner-up in 2013.<\/p>\n
Prof Roger Flanagan, the former president of the Chartered Institute of Building, said: “Alan Beard was a true professional. He was caring and helped many people on their career path. He was humble and concerned for other people.<\/p>\n
“His legacy is a beacon for others to follow; always do your best and exceed your own and the client\u2019s expectations. He will be sadly missed.”<\/p>\n
Chad Murrin, former Beard non-executive director, added: “Alan was a highly respected figure, in the construction and property sectors and in his private and social life.<\/p>\n
“As head of the company, even when it was much smaller, Alan resolutely appointed apprentices and mentored them as they developed successful careers.<\/p>\n
“He was ahead of his time in his approach to developing technically competent construction managers. He led and then supported a very successful well-respected business. I was very sorry to hear of his passing.”<\/p>\n
He is survived by wife Eileen, sons Mark and John, six grandchildren and a great-grandchild. His funeral will take place this Friday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Alan Beard worked for his family firm for 71 years<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":15710,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,9],"coauthors":[81],"class_list":["post-15709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-people","category-property","tag-featured-story"],"yoast_head":"\n