Beard boss retires after 70 years

THE boss of a 129-year-old family-run construction company is retiring after 70 years in the business.

Alan Beard is the third generation to head up Beard Construction, which was founded by his grandfather and has offices in Bristol, Swindon, Oxford, and Guildford.

Mr Beard joined the company’s Cirencester branch in 1950 at the age of 17, working with his father Geoffrey.

Over the years he has been responsible for overseeing many building projects but, according to his son Mark, who is now chair of Beard, it was his work with churches that was particularly important to him.

The pinnacle of Mr Beard’s success in the sector, said his son, is arguably the Bishop Edward King Chapel, Cuddesdon, in Oxfordshire.

He said the multi-award-winning elliptical structure, which was completed in 2013, was one of the most “interesting, complex and technically challenging” construction projects in recent years.

The education sector was another growth area that Mr Beard was involved in, with contracts at schools around the South of England including Eton, Marlborough and Radley colleges as well as projects for the University of Oxford.

He also set up a programme for school leavers and university graduates looking to start their careers in construction during his career.

Mr Beard’s son Mark says the company’s reputation for quality work, fair treatment of customers, suppliers and colleagues is part of his father’s legacy - as well as his sharp-eyed attention to detail.