Docklands "father" Reg Ward remembered in Wharf

By Simon Hayes on July 5, 2011 10:17 AM |

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It's not very common for bosses to be loved by their employees, but a celebration of the life of Reg Ward proved the exception to that rule.

Mr Ward, the first chief executive of the London Docklands Development Corporation, was remembered at a gathering of friends, family and colleagues at an event in Canary Wharf last night.

Among the attendees were former cabinet ministers Lord King and Lord Baker, as well as a host of former LDDC employees - who were all unanimous in their praise for Mr Ward, who died in January aged 83.

Mr Ward was credited with having the vision to instigate the development of the infrastructure that was crucial in the building of Canary Wharf. This included the creation of the Docklands Light Railway and the founding of London City Airport.

Also paying tribute was Lord Heseltine, who sent a specially recorded video message. He was Environment Secretary in Margaret Thatcher's government when the LDDC was set up in 1981, and he worked closely with Mr Ward to bring the vision of a modern Docklands to life.