Canary Wharf "visionary" Reg Ward dies

By Simon Hayes on January 10, 2011 2:53 PM |

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Reg Ward, one of the men chiefly responsible for the creation of the modern Docklands and Canary Wharf, has died aged 83.

Mr Ward, who died last Thursday, was chief executive of the London Docklands Development Corporation between 1981 and 1987. It was the body responsible for the regeneration of the Isle of Dogs.

Among the projects Mr Ward inspired were the Docklands Light Railway, London City Airport and the creation of the Canary Wharf estate.

Tributes paid to Mr Ward included one from George Iacobescu, chief executive of Canary Wharf Group.

He said: "On behalf of everyone at Canary Wharf Group, I was very sad to hear about the death of Reg Ward. As the first chief executive of the LDDC he was a crucial figure in the creation of the Canary Wharf project. He had a great ability to see the potential of this area, when most people saw only problems.

"Reg's legacy lies in the transformation of east London - without him, it just would not have happened."

A tribute to Mr Ward on the LDDC veteran's website said: "So much of what the London Docklands are today is a direct result of Reg's huge vision for the area. He was much loved by all who worked for him in those heady days and he will be greatly missed."

Mr Ward was born in the Forest of Dean in 1927. After spells with the Inland Revenue and a firm of architects he became chief executive at the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and then of Hereford and Worcester county council.

He joined the LDDC in 1980, shortly after it was created by then Environment Secretary Michael Heseltine.

After leaving the LDDC he used the experience gained in Docklands to work on a number of major regeneration projects around the world. Mr Ward's wife, Betty, died early last year. He is survived by two children.