Beeching: 50 Years On
Beeching: 50 Years On

Author: Anthony Poulton-Smith

Publisher: The History Press

Published: 2013-02-01

Total Pages: 194

ISBN-13: 0752492241

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In 1963 Dr Beeching's infamous report signalled the end for over 15,000 miles of track, a third of Britain's stations, and for 70,000 jobs, as well as making irrevocable changes to the way of life of many consumers. Much misery was caused and Beeching's name was muddied, but in hindsight the report probably did more than any other single factor to preserve the nation's railway heritage. Without the Beeching cuts, much of the locomotives, stock, tracks, signals and signs would have crumbled, been forgotten or rotted. However, the gentle railway gradients lend themselves perfectly to walkways and cycle paths; buildings have been refurbished; memorabilia now commands prices at auction which would astonish those who painted the metal. And of course, the heritage lines continue to draw many thousands of visitors each year. After the initial shock of the cuts, this fresh appraisal considers these benefits and more, which may not have come about without the Beeching Report.

Dr Beeching's Axe 50 Years On
Dr Beeching's Axe 50 Years On

Author: Julian Holland

Publisher: F+W Media, Inc.

Published: 2013-09-27

Total Pages: 355

ISBN-13: 1446358305

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Julian Holland's Dr Beeching's Axe 50 Years On is a unique memorial to all that was lost following the publication of the ‘Beeching Report’ on 27 March 1963. Uniquely, the author has tried to include every railway line that was closed as a result of the ‘Beeching Report’, and more. They are all shown on Map 9 in Part 2 of the ‘Report’ and have been annotated for clarity at the beginning of each regional chapter in the book. Needless to say it is not plain sailing: there are lines that were marked for closure on the maps but were closed before publication of the ‘Report’; there are lines that were not originally on Beeching’s original hit list but which were closed anyway; there are lines that were originally marked down for closure but which were fortunately reprieved. There are even one or two which seem to have not existed at all! The author has included them all.

Last Trains
Last Trains

Author: Charles Loft

Publisher: Biteback Publishing

Published: 2013-03-27

Total Pages: 191

ISBN-13: 1849545634

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"The debate about Dr Richard Beeching will rage until the Second Coming – and probably beyond. But in Charles Loft's careful examination of the Beeching Report, we have as fine a study as we are going to possess in the meantime." – Peter Hennessy "Loft's great strength is his judiciousness. He understands the political processes and assesses them fair-mindedly. And his verdict will, I suspect, hold up better than any of Beeching's judgements." – Matthew Engel, Financial Times "Prepare to be impressed, shocked and saddened ... This is undoubtedly one of the best books of the year – a riveting read." – Railways Illustrated "Lucid, to the point, thought-provoking at every turn, Last Trains is a volume that everyone should read before making judgements about the rail closures of the Sixties." – Heritage Railway "Thoughtful and well-researched analysis." – Edinburgh Evening News *** During the course of the 1950s England lost confidence in its rulers and convinced itself it must modernise. The failing steam-powered local railways, run by Colonel Blimp, symbolised everything that was wrong with the country – surely the future lay in motorways and high-speed express trains? Along came Dr Beeching with his diagnosis, and suddenly branch-line Britain was gone for ever. The debate about the Beeching cuts has raged ever since. In this superbly researched examination, Charles Loft exposes the political failures that bankrupted the railways and lays bare the increasing alienation of bureaucrats from the public they were trying to serve. The result is a fascinating study of a nation grappling to come to terms with modernity.

Henry Beeching
Henry Beeching

Author: Peter Fanning

Publisher: Sacristy Press

Published: 2022-11-01

Total Pages: 265

ISBN-13: 1789592518

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Henry Beeching (1859–1919), Dean of Norwich, was a popular preacher, celebrated man of letters and journalist. This is the first full-length biography of this popular poet, professor of English, and a much loved priest.

From Red to Green?
From Red to Green?

Author: Paul Donovan

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-01-11

Total Pages: 258

ISBN-13: 1136529136

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Written by an economist and an investment professional, this book addresses the twin crises that the world is facing in the form of a simultaneous financial and environmental credit crunch. Financially, consumers are less able to consume now, and pay later. Environmentally, we may have already reached our credit limit and the bill for past financial and environmental consumption is falling due. Whether the financial credit crunch constrains consumers in a way that will be environmentally supportive, naturally slowing the consumption of finite resources, or hinders any effective resolution of the environmental credit crunch is of crucial importance. Policy responses to the financial crisis are likely to be constrained by the political need to support the economic status quo, and when combined with a global reduction in available investment capital there are serious challenges ahead if the economic and environmental damage of the environmental credit crunch is to be minimised. This book asks whether financial crunch-induced changes in consumer behaviour will be enough to avoid, or reduce, the environmental crunch many believe is just round the corner. Donovan and Hudson combine their respective economic and environmental perspectives to address this key question, reviewing this 'tale of two crunches' from the perspective of different economic sectors. The answer to the conundrum this book poses may lie in the only unlimited resource on the planet - human ingenuity.

Leaves on the Line
Leaves on the Line

Author: Gavin Fuller

Publisher: Aurum

Published: 2013-04-01

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 1781311757

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Whether it’s leaves on the line or the wrong kind of snow, whether the extortionately priced, curled-up sandwich on sale in the buffet car, or the militancy of the rail unions that seem to be endlessly on strike over nothing, everyone in Britain has an opinion about our railways. After the weather, they are probably the country’s most reliable talking point. With Telegraph readers being the trenchant, choleric and waggish letter-writers that they are, our railways have always figured high on the list of subjects requiring a missive to the Editor. Now, in this fascinating and hilarious selection, Gavin Fuller has put together the best letters on trains to the paper over the years. Here is the end of Steam and the start of Eurostar; the punctuality of Swiss trains and the signal failures of ours; the laments for the branch lines lost under the Beeching cuts, and also for the much-missed peace and quiet of a railway carriage, replaced by the menace of personal stereos and fellow passengers booming, ‘I’m On The Train!’ into their mobile phones.

All Black and Amber - 1963 and a Game of Rugby
All Black and Amber - 1963 and a Game of Rugby

Author: Steve Lewis

Publisher: Y Lolfa

Published: 2013-11-19

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13: 184771806X

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The book covers the calendar year of 1963, recalling the team coming together in the early months of that year, focusing in depth on the match and following the fortunes of the club and the tourists as the possibility of Newport being the only side to defeat New Zealand becomes a reality.

Undivided
Undivided

Author: Vicky Beeching

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2018-06-12

Total Pages: 311

ISBN-13: 0062439944

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Vicky Beeching, called “arguably the most influential Christian of her generation” in The Guardian, began writing songs for the church in her teens. By the time she reached her early thirties, Vicky was a household name in churches on both sides of the pond. Recording multiple albums and singing in America’s largest megachurches, her music was used weekly around the globe and translated into numerous languages. But this poster girl for evangelical Christianity lived with a debilitating inner battle: she was gay. The tens of thousands of traditional Christians she sang in front of were unanimous in their view – they staunchly opposed same-sex relationships and saw homosexuality as a grievous sin. Vicky knew if she ever spoke up about her identity it would cost her everything. Faced with a major health crisis, at the age of thirty-five she decided to tell the world that she was gay. As a result, all hell broke loose. She lost her music career and livelihood, faced threats and vitriol from traditionalists, developed further health issues from the immense stress, and had to rebuild her life almost from scratch. But despite losing so much she gained far more: she was finally able to live from a place of wholeness, vulnerability, and authenticity. She finally found peace. What’s more, Vicky became a champion for others, fighting for LGBT equality in the church and in the corporate sector. Her courageous work is creating change in the US and the UK, as she urges people to celebrate diversity, live authentically, and become undivided.

A Northern Wind
A Northern Wind

Author: David Kynaston

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Published: 2023-09-28

Total Pages: 705

ISBN-13: 1526657554

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A WATERSTONES, TIMES, TELEGRAPH, NEW STATESMAN, SPECTATOR AND BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE BOOK OF THE YEAR The early sixties in Britain told as only David Kynaston ('the most entertaining historian alive' Spectator) can. Running from 1962 to 1965, A Northern Wind is the anticipated new volume in the landmark 'Tales of a New Jerusalem' series. 'Addictively readable . . . Kynaston's tireless research turns up plenty of gems' Dominic Sandbrook, Sunday Times 'A breathtaking array of treasures' TLS 'Magisterial' Financial Times 'Here is an intricate tapestry that conveys the essence of time' Literary Review How much can change in less than two and a half years? In the case of Britain in the Sixties, the answer is: almost everything. From the seismic coming of the Beatles to a sex scandal that rocked the Tory government to the arrival at No 10 of Harold Wilson, a prime minister utterly different from his Old Etonian predecessors. A Northern Wind, the keenly anticipated next instalment of David Kynaston's acclaimed Tales of a New Jerusalem series, brings to vivid life the period between October 1962 and February 1965. Drawing upon an unparalleled array of diaries, newspapers and first-hand recollections, Kynaston's masterful storytelling refreshes familiar events – the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Big Freeze, the assassination of JFK, the funeral of Winston Churchill – while revealing in all their variety the experiences of the people living through this history. Major themes complement the compelling narrative: an anti-Establishment mood epitomised by the BBC's controversial That Was The Week That Was; a welfare state only slowly becoming more responsive to the individual needs of its users; and the rise of consumer culture, as Habitat arrived and shopping centres like Birmingham's Bull Ring proliferated. Multi-voiced, multi-dimensional and immersive, Tales of a New Jerusalem has transformed how we see and understand post-war Britain. A Northern Wind continues the journey.

Sunday
Sunday

Author: Edward Stourton

Publisher: SPCK

Published: 2023-10-19

Total Pages: 475

ISBN-13: 028108775X

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'Religion is very much part of life as it's lived now for lots and lots of people and, around the world, most people... Religion is not boring; I think that's what Sunday keeps reminding us.' David Winter, Producer of BBC Radio 4 Sunday Listeners all over the UK are likely familiar with Edward Stourton for his role on BBC Radio 4's iconic programme: the country's main religious and ethical news programme 'Sunday'. Now, avid Radio 4 listeners and curious newcomers alike have the chance to delve deeper into these broadcasts, as Stourton chronicles over fifty years of current affairs in his latest book, Sunday, in collaboration with BBC Producer Amanda Hancox. In Sunday, Stourton transmits half a century of Radio 4's iconic programme to paper. Featuring interviews with well-known figures such as Desmond Tutu, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks and Enoch Powell, the book traces the evolution of debate on a variety of key issues including sexuality, bioethics, nuclear weapons and many more. From the Church's answer to the cost-of-living crisis to the debate around female bishops, the abuse within the Catholic Church to the new wave of anti-Semitism - Sunday's interviewers cross-examine speakers with rigour and acuity. With expert insight, Edward Stourton provides critical reflection on how religion has impacted some of the world's most epoch-making moments. Covering a wide breadth of stories at the intersection of ethics, politics, and religion, Sunday features hundreds of stimulating discussions. It is a testament to how religion remains a powerful force in the lives of most people on our planet, whether people of faith or non-believers.