Career
Born in Manchester, Beard worked as a patternmaker and became active in the United Patternmakers Association, first as a local organiser, then as secretary of its Lancashire and Cheshire district. In his early life, he was also involved in amateur dramatics. In 1912, he became a full-time union official
He also served on the General Council of the Trades Union Congress (Trades Union Congress) from 1947, and was President of the Trades Union Congress in 1955/56.
In addition, he chaired the Trades Union Congress"s Education Committee for many years, and served on a number of government commissions. He served on the Iron and Steel Board in the early 1950s, but resigned in 1953 following pressure from his union.
In 1958/59, he was President of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions. Beard was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1948.
However, it is recorded that in 1959 he declined the higher award of a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. Beard stood down from the Trades Union Congress General Council at its 1967 Congress, and died unexpectedly before the end of the year.
