1918 -2023

Philip Rees OBE, former Chief Civil Engineer of BR Western Region and 14th in that post since Brunel, has died at the age of 104, after a lifetime dedicated to railways, particularly the Great Western.

Born at Penarth in 1918, Philip joined the GWR from school. In 1942 he joined the PWI and was a member for over 80 years – perhaps the longest ever recorded. Serving in India during WW2, back in England he worked on the Western Region at Plymouth and at Reading, before becoming District Engineer at Shrewsbury, later transferred to the London Midland Region.

As DCE Watford from 1970, he oversaw the introduction of the first 70 mph crossovers at Hanslope. In 1975 he became the Chief Civil Engineer of the Western Region, leading the upgrade of the main lines to Bristol and South Wales for the UK’s first 125 mph railway, and remaining in this post until retirement in 1983.

Philip drove himself, and he expected no less from his staff, inspiring admiration and loyalty in those who met his high standards. He remained active in retirement to the end, keeping contact with former colleagues, building and maintaining a model railway, and acting as unpaid consultant to the Vale of Rheidol Railway.