Posted 29th March 2022 | 3 Comments

Obituary: Cyril Bleasdale




 

We greatly regret to report the death of Railnews chairman Cyril Bleasdale. 

Cyril, who was 87, was one of the founding owners of Railnews Ltd when the title was acquired from the British Railways Board in 1996, and served as managing director until last year. He died in hospital on Saturday afternoon after a short illness.

Cyril joined the railways as a booking clerk in 1950, and later occupied a number of senior management posts under British Rail including director InterCity, general manager London Midland Region and director ScotRail, before retiring from BR in 1994.

He is survived by his wife Katy and their two daughters, Jane and Emma. 

Cyril Bleasdale OBE, 8 July 1934–26 March 2022.


This report was first posted on 28 March.
A fuller report will appear in the forthcoming print edition of Railnews, which will be published on 7 April.


Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

  • Howard Johnston, Hunstanton,Norfolk

    I also met Cyril several times in the 1970s and 1980s, and was always in awe of his influence, powerful personality and list of achievements,mostly in the face of dreadful Government interference. No change there then.

    I think Cyril's golden media moment was when Modern Railways devoted its entire front cover to a photo of him simply looking out of a coach window. What bombshell was he going to drop next? One man's facial expression was enough to sell thousands of magazines!

  • Chris Jackson, Sutton, Surrey

    Very sorry to hear this news. Cyril was one of the first senior figures in the UK rail sector that I got to know when joining RG, and a fount of useful knowledge - as well as the odd anecdote. It was always a pleasure to meet him, and he will be greatly missed.

  • Francis Thomas, Rugby

    I have met the greatest of railway men and women but none better than Cyril. He was the greatest influence on my professional life and his counsel was always as wise as it was original.