Bernard Holden
Bernard Holden | |
---|---|
Born | Bernard John Holden 15 March 1908 Barcombe, East Sussex, England |
Died | 4 October 2012 Ditchling, East Sussex, England | (aged 104)
Occupation(s) | Railway engineer, soldier |
Bernard John Holden
Biography
Bernard was born in the
At the outbreak of the
He resumed his civilian railway career and joined
Service with Bluebell Railway
In 1958 Bernard Holden and four other enthusiasts launched the Bluebell Preservation Society, ostensibly to reopen as a heritage railway the recently closed railway-line between East Grinstead and Lewes. John Leeroy was the first chairman of the Railway and Bernard was Signalling Engineer. Under his guidance the Bluebell Railway became the first preserved standard gauge steam-operated passenger railway in the world to operate a public service[4] running its first services in August 1960, less than three years after the line from East Grinstead to Lewes had been closed by British Railways.
As an active Superintendent of the Line and later President of the Bluebell Society, Bernard Holden oversaw the retention and then the expansion of the railway from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead and in 1992 was appointed MBE for services to railway preservation. He was described as one of the greatest figures in the rail preservation movement of all time[5] As President he witnessed the re-laying of track to a new terminus at East Grinstead, although he died a few months before official services were re-instated.
Bernard Holden died aged 104 at Ditchling, East Sussex, on 4 October 2012. His funeral cortège included a nine-mile ride on the Bluebell Railway.[1][6]
In March 2013
Bibliography
- Bernard Holden, Let Smoke Make Steam - an account of managing the railways in Great Britain and India during World War II (2004)
References
- ^ a b c Bluebell News vol:54 No:3, obituary of Bernard J Holden 1908–2012 Autumn 2012
- ^ a b c "Bernard Holden". Telegraph. 4 October 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
- ^ Bernard Holden, Let Smoke Make Steam - an account of managing the railways in Great Britain and India during World War II, Unknown publisher (2004)
- ISBN 1854143360
- ^ Robin Jones, Heritage Railway magazine, Autumn 2012
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-19964169 Bluebell Railway founder Bernard Holden's final journey.
- ^ http://history.buses.co.uk/history/fleethist/477bh.htm Brighton & Hove Names on Buses