Gerald managed an architectural practice in Liverpool as well as being an academic in the school, and from that position was able to give advice not only on good architectural design, but also the practice and management aspects of real-world architecture. Graduates from the School very much valued the thoughtful and informed balance of advice and views that he was able to offer.
Gerald undertook a number of commissions for the University. This included the design of Bedford house, and the excellent Wyncote Sports Pavilion. Other commissions included the new National Westminster Bank at the end of Princes Avenue. His practice also oversaw the major extension to the school of architecture in the early 1980s when the School of Architecture and Department of Building Engineering merged with a common home in the Leverhulme Building.
He had a significant influence on a very large number of architects who graduated from the school, and is universally remembered with affection. Professor John Tarn OBE, who was Head of the School of Architecture during Gerald’s time here described him as “the last of that generation and one of the better practitioner–teachers…I always found him one of the most congenial members of staff and for many years he provided the reality of the profession for final year students. He made a good contribution to the School and to building in and around Merseyside.
Professor André Brown, former Head of School noted that, “He was very good to me as a new, raw colleague and I was glad to have the opportunity to thank him for that in person a couple of years ago when he visited the School. I was pleased also that we were able to recognise his contribution to the School of Architecture and to the buildings in the University of Liverpool and beyond by naming, last year, a new Architecture Gallery after him, The Beech Gallery in the former Education building.
Reflection By Some Of Those Who Knew Gerald
Rob Macdonald
Gerald R Beech was my tutor in 1976 at The Liverpool School of Architecture. He led the BArch programme with Dave King and Peter Richardson, all practicing architects and academics. ... Gerald told me about when James Stirling was a student in the 1950s and for me this really fired my interest in Le Corbusier and Modernism. I set of on my own grand tour to Leicester, Oxford and Cambridge; Gerald opened my eyes. He was quietly passionate about Modernism and Wyncote, The University Sports Pavillion was his masterwork in Allerton. I used this wonderful building, changing for football on Saturday mornings. Gerald was responsible for The Technical Working Drawing Programme. This was an important final component of the BArch. All candidates were required to submit a full set (20) of dimensioned and annotated working drawings. After several weeks Gerald would return the drawings, with pencil annotations and sketch suggestions. Gerald organised and led an RIBA architectural competition for a Mobile Architecture Centre, which I jointly won with Robert Kronenburg and Graham Howarth. This was built and travelled around Merseyside and was presented at The National RIBA Conference at Liverpool University. This was probably my first experience of designing and actually building. Without Gerald's leadership and enthusiasm "Architecture on The Move" would not have happened. For me, Gerald Beech was a great architectural inspiration and I am eternally grateful. May his God be him and his family.
Dr Robert G MacDonald.,BA BArch PhD. RIBA.
Emeritus President Liverpool Architectural Society,
Reader in Architecture LJMU,
Rick Hall (class of 63)
I remember him as the one teacher we had who combined a genuine interest and enthusiasm in teaching with real stature as a practicing architect. He generously gave many opportunities to students to work in his office during their studies and was always approachable. He always managed to entertain as well as inform with many anecdotes about his life as an architect.
I am sure his contribution to the School has been immense and he will leave many fond memories for all those who knew him.
Rick Hall
Sue Cornah (class of 63)
Gerald Beech was our final year tutor in the academic year of 1967/68.
We always held him in high regard because he was a practicing architect and really knew how to floor one (me) with technical questions! He was hot on construction techniques and buildability…and…he always wore a bow tie and was very dapper!
Sue Cornah
Warren Marshall
I was very sad to hear of Gerald's death.
He was very much respected and admired by those of us who were students at the School in the 60s. He was a good lecturer who had lots of practical experience running a successful practice. As a keen football player for the university I regularly played at Wyncote playing fields and changed in the Gerald Beech designed changing rooms. I understand that they have since become listed buildings.
Some years later I met him in my capacity as the Urban Design and Conservation Manager at Manchester when I realized that he was a very humble man.
Warren
David Ainsley
Gerald Beech was one of the primary lecturers and studio instructors in my day.
For myself, I have no recollection of a particular story regarding Gerald Beech. In a way that was the essence of the man, because he was the epitome of an undemonstrative, calm professional. We knew he was a busy working architect, and we admired the light, dignified buildings he designed, but he always had time for you, smiled, was charming, calm and quietly confident and professional. Whilst I am sure I learned specifics from him, without realising it at the time, what I really learned from him, almost by osmosis, was an approach to the totality of being an architect.
David
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