Henry Johnson (railway executive)
Sir Henry Johnson KBE | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 11 September 1906 |
| Died | 13 March 1988 (aged 81) |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
| Education | Bedford Modern School |
| Known for | Chairman of British Rail |
Sir Henry Cecil Johnson KBE (11 September 1906 - 13 March 1988), was Chairman of British Rail.[1][2] Johnson astutely began the sale and development of surplus railway land and established the British Rail Property Board in 1970.[2] The finances of British Railways improved under Johnson’s chairmanship and when he left in 1971, British Rail had a surplus of £9.7 million.[2] Sir Peter Parker, a later Chairman, ‘admired his honesty and courage', describing him as ‘straight as a gun barrel’.[2]
Early life
Henry Cecil Johnson was born in Lavendon, Buckinghamshire on 11 September 1906, the son of William Longland and Alice Mary Johnson of Lavendon, Buckinghamshire.[3] He was educated at Bedford Modern School.[4]
Career
Johnson joined the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) as a traffic apprentice in 1923.[3][5] After various posts in the Operating Department of LNER, Johnson was appointed Assistant Superintendent of Southern Area, LNER, in 1942.[3] In 1955 he became Chief Operating Superintendent of the Eastern Region and later General Manager in 1958.[3]
In 1962, Johnson became General Manager of the London Midland Region, and was also its Chairman between 1963 and 1967.[3] He ‘took charge of the electrification of the Euston to Manchester and Liverpool line, the first main-line electrification, completed in 1966’.[2][6] Johnson became Vice-Chairman of the British Railways Board in 1967 and was appointed its Chairman in 1968, a position he held until 1971.[3]
The finances of British Railways improved under Johnson’s chairmanship and when he left in 1971, British Rail had a surplus of £9.7 million.[2] Although this was largely as a result of the 1968 Transport Act, when grants were made to unprofitable passenger services providing a public service, Johnson astutely began the development of surplus railway land and established the British Rail Property Board in 1970.[2] In the 1970s British Railways earned £20 million a year from land sales.[2]
After British Railways, Johnson became Chairman of MEPC (1971-76) and held board positions at Lloyds Bank, the Trident Life Assurance Company and Imperial Life of Canada.[3]
Awards and honours
Johnson was appointed CBE in 1962, made Knight Bachelor in 1968 and KBE in 1972.[3]
Personal life
Always known as Bill Johnson, ‘he had a friendly and relaxed manner, but he was shrewd, a good listener, and expert at delegating’.[2][5] Sir Peter Parker, a later Chairman, ‘admired his honesty and courage', describing him as ‘straight as a gun barrel.[2] He was ‘extremely popular with the railway employees, who admired him as [then being] the only railwayman to have started at the bottom and worked his way up through the ranks to become Chairman of British Railways’.[2]
Johnson was a member of the Marylebone Cricket Club and The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews.[3] The BBC’s Your Paintings Series has a portrait of Johnson.[7] In 1932 he married Evelyn Mary Morton; they had two daughters.[3] He died on 13 March 1988 in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire.[3][2]
References
- ^ Who’s Who 1971, Published by A&C Black Limited, 1971
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Henry Johnson". oxforddnb.com. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Who's Who". ukwhoswho.com. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
- ^ Bedford Modern School of the Black And Red, Andrew Underwood 1981
- ^ a b "Managers, directors, etc (second file)". steamindex.com. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
- ^ http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/BRB_YNR001.pdf
- ^ "BBC - Your Paintings - Sir Henry Johnson, Chairman, British Railways Board (1968–1971)". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 5 July 2015.