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Sir Keith Bright
Born(1931-08-30)30 August 1931
Died20 January 2021
OccupationChairman of London Transport Executive: 1982–1984 Chairman of London Regional Transport: 1984–1988

Sir Keith Bright (30 August 1931 – 20 January 2021)[1] was Chairman of London Regional Transport in the 1980s. He resigned following the Fennell Report into the King's Cross fire in 1988, that criticised the management of London Underground and London Transport.[2]

Biography

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Graduating from the University of London, Bright worked for a wide variety of companies including Formica, Sime Darby and Associated Biscuits.[3]

London Transport

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Bright was headhunted by the Greater London Council (GLC) to lead London Transport, despite having no experience in the transportation industry. He was appointed Chairman of the London Transport Executive (LTE) in 1982.[4] Underground ridership was declining, and efforts to reduce costs by cutting service, increasing ticket prices or cutting staff were blocked by Unions and the GLC – led by Ken Livingstone.[2]

Following political rows between the Conservative government and the GLC, the London Regional Transport Act 1984 removed the transport powers of the GLC, with LTE becoming London Regional Transport. Bright remained as chairman, reporting directly to the Secretary of State for Transport.[2] Improvements such as the Travelcard, automatic ticket machines and more night buses helped to improve service and increase revenue. Expenditure was also cut, with job losses due to the privatisation of London bus services.[5] The requirement of taxpayer support was halved to £95m a year, 2 years ahead of schedule.[6]

By 1987, the Underground was 40% busier than its 1982 low – with future plans for transport improvements such as the Docklands Light Railway and the Jubilee Line Extension well underway.[2] In 1987, Bright was knighted for services to London Transport.[7][8]

Kings Cross fire

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In 1987, a major fire at King's Cross Underground station killed 31 people.[9][10] Following the fire, Bright offered to resign; however, Transport Secretary Paul Channon requested Bright to stay as chairman throughout the subsequent public inquiry.[2] During the inquiry, Bright was criticised for suggesting that an arsonist was to blame for the fire.[11] In 1988, the Fennell Report into the fire was published, which revealed serious issues with the safety of the Underground and its management culture.[12] Both Bright and Tony Ridley (Chairman of London Underground) resigned.[11] He was replaced on an caretaker basis by Sir Neil Shields (1988–89),[13] and then by Sir Wilfrid Newton.

Subsequent career

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After his resignation from London Transport, Bright became chairman of Electrocomponents. Further chairperson and directorship positions followed including Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, British Airports Authority and Brent Walker.[3][2]

Later years and death

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After several years with Alzheimer's disease,[14] Bright died in January 2021 from COVID-19, aged 89.[1] Bright was survived by his wife Margot and their daughter Octavia, as well as a son and daughter from his first marriage.[15]

In July 2023, Octavia published a memoir, This Ragged Grace: On Recovery and Renewal, about her relationship with her father in his later years living with dementia.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Sir Keith Bright, London Transport chairman when the King's Cross fire broke out". Daily Telegraph. 22 January 2021. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Eliason, Marcus (10 November 1988). "Report Denounces Staff Response to Deadly Fire; Top Men Quit". Associated Press. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b Bright, Keith; Porter, Melinda Camber; Flicek, Joseph R. Night angel : one-woman musical (First printing POD ed.). Sag Harbor, New York. ISBN 978-1-942231-35-6. OCLC 1137741954.
  4. ^ Baily, Michael (18 May 1982). "Top LT job is offered to food firm man". The Times. No. 61236. p. 2. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  5. ^ "Huge job losses at LRT | 21st January 1988 | The Commercial Motor Archive". archive.commercialmotor.com. 21 January 1988. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  6. ^ "Underground in London". The Spectator. 18 June 1988. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Sir Keith Bright, Chairman and Chief Executive of London Regional..." Getty Images. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  8. ^ "New Year's Honours 1987" (PDF). London Gazette. 31 December 1986. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  9. ^ Raines, Howell (19 November 1987). "32 Are Killed in Fire At London Subway; 80 Reported Injured". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  10. ^ "1987: King's Cross station fire 'kills 27'". BBC News. 18 November 1987. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  11. ^ a b "London Subway Officials Quit Over Fire Criticism". Los Angeles Times. 10 November 1988. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  12. ^ Fennell, Desmond, 1929- (1988). Investigation into the King's Cross underground fire. Great Britain. Department of Transport. London: [For] Department of Transport [by] H.M.S.O. ISBN 0-10-104992-7. OCLC 19271585.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "Sir Neil Shields". The Daily Telegraph (London). 17 September 2002. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
  14. ^ Bright, Octavia (14 July 2020). "Alzheimer's Turned My Sense Of Responsibility Upside Down". ELLE. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  15. ^ Obituaries, Telegraph (22 January 2021). "Sir Keith Bright, London Transport chairman when the King's Cross fire broke out – obituary". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  16. ^ Bright, Octavia (6 June 2023). "'I knew the terror of lost time': how my father's dementia echoed my own alcoholism". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
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