Doctor Beeching: Axeman or surgeon?

摘要

In his classic book 'I Tried to Run a Railway', the late Gerard Fiennes described Dr Richard Beeching as "the great and good doctor". Was he justified or was Beeching the 'axeman' of popular tradition? The truth lies between the two extremes.rnOn June 1, 1961, Beeching succeeded Sir Brian Robertson as BTC chairman. In contrast to the military bearing of his predecessor, the 47-year-old Beeching's demeanour was that of a relaxed bon viveur, but, to quote economics historian Dr Terry Gourvish, "beneath the lazy, reserved manner there was a quick, incisive mind" - a mind that had impressed Transport Minister Ernest Marples during Beeching's work on the Stedeford Committee.