the times | Thursday April 28 2022 53
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He was sad to leave Scotland,
where he met his wife Katy, with
whom he had two daughters,
Jane and Emma. However, by
1975 he was managing director
of Freightliner Ltd, BR’s freight
business. In 1982 he went on to
become the first director of
InterCity, a post he held for four
years, and it was towards the end
of his tenure, on a Friday
evening in September 1986, that
two busy express trains crashed
head-on at a junction in
Staffordshire. One driver was
killed and dozens of passengers
injured, including the Nicara-
guan ambassador to Britain.
Bleasdale went immediately to
the site, oversaw the rescue
operation, dealt with the media
and ensured the service was re-
stored by Tuesday.
From InterCity he moved to
become general manager of
BR’s London Midland Region,
during which time he was ap-
pointed OBE, until going back
to Scotland as director of Scot-
Rail in 1990. The economic
situation required cuts to be
made and projects such as the
Stirling-Alloa reopening to be
put on hold. However, he made
the best of it by commending the
new fleet of lightweight diesel
Class 158 trains to the Scottish
business community through
the retro-fitting of first-class
compartments complete with
specially-commissioned worksWindsor Castle
27th April, 2022
Mr Vincent Thompson (Vice Lord-
Lieutenant of Essex) was present at
Stansted Airport this evening upon
the Arrival of The President of the
Swiss Confederation and welcomed
His Excellency on behalf of The
Queen.Clarence House
27th April, 2022
The Prince of Wales, Visitor, the
Royal College of Art, this afternoon
visited the Dyson Gallery, Battersea
Campus, 1 Hester Road, London
SW11, and was received by Her
Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of
Greater London (Sir Kenneth
Olisa).
His Royal Highness, Royal
Founding Patron, the British Asian
Trust, later received Mr Manoj
Badale upon relinquishing his role
as Chairman.
The Prince of Wales, Colonel-in-
Chief, Army Air Corps, this
afternoon received Lieutenant
General Nicholas Borton (Colonel
Commandant).
The Duchess of Cornwall, Royal
Patron, this afternoon visited the
National Theatre, Upper Ground,
London SE1, and was received by
Mr Christopher Wellbelove (Deputy
Lieutenant of Greater London).
Her Royal Highness, Patron, the
British Sporting Art Trust, later
attended a private view of the Sir
Alfred Munnings (1878-1959), A Life
of his Own Exhibition at the
Osborne Studio Gallery, 2 Motcomb
Street, London SW1, and was
received by Mr Stuart Shilson
(Deputy Lieutenant of Greater
London).
St James’s Palace
27th April, 2022
The Duke of Cambridge, Joint
Patron, the Royal Foundation of
The Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge, this morning held an
Emergency Responders Senior
Leaders’ Board Meeting at
Kensington Palace.
St James’s Palace
27th April, 2022
The Earl and Countess of Wessex,
on behalf of The Queen in
celebration of Her Majesty’s
Platinum Jubilee, today carried out
the following engagements in St.
Lucia, Windward Islands.
Their Royal Highnesses this
morning visited Fond Doux
Plantation, Soufrière.The Earl and Countess of Wessex
afterwards visited Sulphur Spring,
Soufrière.
Their Royal Highnesses this
afternoon attended a Luncheon
given by the Hon. Philip Pierre MP
(Prime Minister of Saint Lucia) at
Dasheene Restaurant, Ladera
Resort, Soufrière.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex
later visited Soufrière Mini Stadium.
Their Royal Highnesses this
evening attended a Reception given
by Mr Errol Charles (Acting
Governor-General of Saint Lucia) at
Government House, Castries.
The Earl of Wessex, on behalf of
The Queen, afterwards held an
Investiture at Government House.
St James’s Palace
27th April, 2022
The Princess Royal, Colonel-in-
Chief, The Royal Army Veterinary
Corps, this morning opened the
Defence Animal Training Regiment
Canine Training Squadron
Headquarters, Remount Barracks,
Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray,
and was received by the Lord-
Lieutenant of Leicestershire (Mr.
Michael Kapur).
Her Royal Highness, Patron, the
Royal College of Midwives, and The
Duchess of Cambridge, Patron, the
Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists, this afternoon
opened 10-18 Union Street, London
SE1, and were received by Colonel
Jane Davis (Vice Lord-Lieutenant of
Greater London).
The Princess Royal, Patron, the
Whitley Fund for Nature, this
evening presented the Whitley
Fund for Nature Annual Awards at
the Royal Geographical Society, 1
Kensington Gore, London SW7, and
was received by Mr Kevin Traverse-
Healy (Deputy Lieutenant of
Greater London).Kensington Palace
27th April, 2022
The Duchess of Gloucester, Deputy
Colonel-in-Chief, Adjutant
General’s Corps, today attended the
Triple Crown Military Skills
Challenge Competition and
officially opened the Gloucester
Building at Worthy Down,
Winchester, to celebrate the
Thirtieth Anniversary of the Corps,
and was received by Mr Timothy
Weale (Deputy Lieutenant of
Hampshire).
Her Royal Highness, President,
this evening attended the launch of
the Bicentenary Campaign, “the
Royal Academy of Music’s Future”,
at the Royal Academy of Music,
Marylebone Road, London NW1.St James’s Palace
27th April, 2022
The Duke of Kent, Grand Master,
this afternoon presided at the
Annual Investiture of the United
Grand Lodge of England at
Freemasons’ Hall, 60 Great Queen
Street, London WC2.THE LORD is my protector; he is my
strong fortress. My God is my protection,
and with him I am safe. He protects me like
a shield; he defends me and keeps me safe.
He is my saviour; he protects me and saves
me from violence. 2 Samuel 22.2-3 (GNB)
Bible verses are provided by the Bible
SocietyBirths
REDMAYNE on 16th April 2022 to Nell
(née Fane) and Tom, a daughter, Sylvie
Grace Pamela, sister to Nola.Forthcoming Marriages
MISS L. G. R. HALDANE
AND MR S. R. P. HESTER
The engagement is announced between
Miss Lucy Georgina Rosemary Haldane,
formerly of Foswell, Auchterarder, and Mr
Sean Rory Peter Hester.Deaths
ADLAM Sarah died peacefully in the early
hours of 16th April 2022. Widow of her
beloved Nico, much-loved sister of Derek,
his wife Nicky and aunt to Jamie and Toby.
Funeral Service will take place at Chelsea
Old Church, 64 Cheyne Walk, London, SW3
5LT, 11am on 17th May 2022.
ARTHUR Gerald William died peacefully
on 20th April 2022, aged 91, with his
daughters, Kate and Caroline, at his side.
Dearly loved father, adored and proud
grandpa of Ella, Ollie and Will and beloved
husband of the late June. Funeral at
Woking crematorium, GU21 8TJ, at noon on
Wednesday 11th May. Donations if desired
to Cancer Research UK c/o Lodge Brothers
— 01784 433692.
BOOTH Pauline Ann (née Bainbridge)
died on 17th February 2022 in Miami,
Florida. Widow of Roger Booth, both
formerly of Ivesley, County Durham, and
latterly the Isle of Man; sister of Christine,
Michael and John and stepmother to
Deborah, Simon, Rupert and Ilona. Family
memorial to be held on 9th July in
Sherborne c/o the Edlmann family.
BROADBENT Roger James Richmond
died peacefully on 9th April 2022, aged 84,
after a long illness. Born 4th July 1937,
Alexandria. Beloved father, grandfather,
great-grandfather. Funeral 28th April
2.30pm, St Cosmas and St Damian, Keymer.
Family flowers only. Any donations to
Oldlands Mill, Keymer, memorygiving.com/
rogerbroadbent
DE BURGH MARSH Patricia Dorothy
(née Mark) on 22nd April 2022, aged 95.
Died peacefully at home. Much-loved
mother of four children, nine grandchildren
and one great-grandchild. Funeral to be
held in Colchester on Friday, 6th May, at
1pm. Please contact the family for details.
DOYLE Judy (née Rucker) died on 19th
April 2022, aged 95, at Denville Hall.
Beloved wife of Gavin (deceased), mother
of Charlotte and James, grandmother and
great-grandmother. Funeral on Friday 6th
May at 2pm at St Michael’s Church, South
Grove, Highgate, N6 6BJ. No flowers but
donations in her name to Denville Hall, 62
Ducks Hill Road, Northwood, HA6 2SB.
HERON Joselen (Jo), previously Zwiefach
(née Ransome) on 11 April 2022, aged 97.
Retired ENT surgeon. Much loved by her
family (particularly Jane and Jill), friends
and neighbours. Funeral to be held at
Putney Vale Crematorium on 30th May at
1.45pm. Donations if wished to Age UK
https://gofund.me/3cdb8c66Court Circular Births, Marriages
and Deaths
newsukadvertising.co.uk
020 7782 7553of art. He showed their high-
speed capability by arranging a
demonstration of one in May
1992 that took 32.5 minutes to
cover the 47 miles from Glasgow
to Edinburgh. He was a man
who knew how to use publicity
to achieve his aims.
When the building on the
island platform at Aviemore,
where the station is the village’s
only listed building, began to
sag, he announced its demoli-
tion in the knowledge that heri-
tage authorities would come to
its rescue. Today, restored with
the help of the Railway Heritage
Trust, it is shared by ScotRail
with the Strathspey Railway.
The fine Edwardian building at
Inverurie is another example of
a station that he conserved
during his time at ScotRail.
After retiring in 1994 he
became a director of the charity
Transaid, which helps provide
transport to enable access to
basic services for people in devel-
oping countries. In 1996 he was
one of the founding owners of
the BR staff newspaper Railnews
when the title was acquired from
the British Railways Board. For a
former schoolboy with no
interest in trains, it had been a
memorable journey.Cyril Bleasdale OBE, former
ScotRail director, was born on July
8, 1934. He died after a short
illness on March 26, 2022, aged 87Cyril Bleasdale, who worked hard to preserve historic stations, in
2017 meeting Chris Grayling, the transport secretary at the timeCyril Bleasdale
Resourceful ScotRail director with an eye for a PR opportunity
Unlike many young schoolboys
Cyril Bleasdale was never a train
enthusiast. The closest he came
was writing an essay about the
role of railways in the Industrial
Revolution. He was singularly
unimpressed when his cousins
went off on trainspotting
expeditions. He could never
understand the attraction of the
pastime and it would continue
to remain a mystery.
Yet when he left school at 15
and became a railway booking
office clerk, it set him on a
trajectory that would take him
to the top of the industry that
had originally held no thrall. His
determination and ability to
identify a PR advantage helped
him to navigate wide-ranging
changes on the railways as he
moved up the ladder to head
InterCity and London Midland
Region before finally becoming
director of ScotRail.
Born in 1934 in Liverpool, the
son of Frederick Bleasdale, a
foreman bricklayer, and his wife
Alice, a tailoress, Cyril Bleasdale
was evacuated on the outbreak
of the Second World War to
Lancashire.
After returning to Liverpool
he attended Evered High
School, taking night classes
after he left to start his job in the
booking office in Bootle. His
education continued with a
part-time economics course at
Manchester University (he
would later attend a senior
executive programme at Stan-
ford University in California)
and he moved on to a chief
clerk’s post. After a break for
National Service, he qualified as
a stationmaster and joined a
British Railways management
training scheme.
He had a spell in British Trans-
port Advertising as group
manager in Scotland and once
recalled going to join a dinner of
the BR Scottish Region top team
at which, as the wine flowed
faster, the talk got ever wilder of
stripping out every last bit of
potentially redundant infra-
structure; it was evidently a
formative experience for a man
who would go on to show respect
for the railway’s inheritance.
JOHN ROBERTSONThe perfect
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