Edgar Beck
Encyclopedia
Sir Edgar Charles Beck CBE
(1911–2000) was a British civil engineer
. He was managing director, chairman then president of Mowlem
, one of the largest construction and civil engineering companies in the United Kingdom.
He was educated at Lancing College
and then Jesus College, Cambridge
before joining Mowlem in 1933. During World War II
he helped with the construction of 10 airfields, and the Mulberry harbour
s used during the D-Day
landings.
During Beck's chairmanship of Mowlem, the company reconstructed the 18th-century building at 10 Downing Street
(1963), built the new London Bridge
(1967), and built the NatWest Tower (1979, now Tower 42
).
Beck was chairman of the Export Group for the Constructional Industries (1959–1963), and Chairman of the Council, then President, of the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors. He was awarded a CBE
in 1967 and was knighted
in 1975.
Edgar Beck died in July 2000 and was survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters.
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
(1911–2000) was a British civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
. He was managing director, chairman then president of Mowlem
Mowlem
Mowlem was one of the largest construction and civil engineering companies in the United Kingdom. Carillion bought the firm in 2006.-History:Founded by John Mowlem in 1822, the company was awarded a Royal Warrant in 1902 and went public on the London Stock Exchange in 1924. It acquired SGB Group in...
, one of the largest construction and civil engineering companies in the United Kingdom.
He was educated at Lancing College
Lancing College
Lancing College is a co-educational English independent school in the British public school tradition, founded in 1848 by Nathaniel Woodard. Woodard's aim was to provide education "based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith." Lancing was the first of a...
and then Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
before joining Mowlem in 1933. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he helped with the construction of 10 airfields, and the Mulberry harbour
Mulberry harbour
A Mulberry harbour was a British type of temporary harbour developed in World War II to offload cargo on the beaches during the Allied invasion of Normandy....
s used during the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
landings.
During Beck's chairmanship of Mowlem, the company reconstructed the 18th-century building at 10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street, colloquially known in the United Kingdom as "Number 10", is the headquarters of Her Majesty's Government and the official residence and office of the First Lord of the Treasury, who is now always the Prime Minister....
(1963), built the new London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
(1967), and built the NatWest Tower (1979, now Tower 42
Tower 42
Tower 42 is the second tallest skyscraper in the City of London and the fifth tallest in London overall. The original name was the National Westminster Tower, having been built to house the National Westminster Bank's International Division. Seen from above, the tower closely resembles the NatWest...
).
Beck was chairman of the Export Group for the Constructional Industries (1959–1963), and Chairman of the Council, then President, of the Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors. He was awarded a CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1967 and was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1975.
Edgar Beck died in July 2000 and was survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters.