A few years later abt 1978 "The Miners" was the first "pub" I ever bought beer in, ostensibly while harmlessly playing pool in the skittle alley extension. Soon we'd nip in most nights for a "quick un" before closing time, I even worked the bar there occasionally when extra busy such as private parties, or struggled to time our late "quick un" during confusing Bank Holidays when you didn't know if it was "Sunday" early closing or an extra 1/2 hr extension; not that it mattered as drinkup time could take an hour or so... Abt 1980 a fellow regular was a policeman who worked HRH Charles' Highgrove House security, he spoke abt having to occasionally discretely follow Lady Di when she drove off in a late-night huff !... All this time the "High Sheriff" of the Miners Hall was Councillor Alan Warren(1920-1988), and his Chief Deputy and natural successor was Frank Beard, also a local town councillor and a picture-perfect Town Mayor given his large build and whiskers!. Both were typical of the pub's clientel - most were ex-miners, some still working usually at Ranks Mitcheldean or their satellite Machine Shop in Lower Cinderford, as Alan & Frank both did while I was apprenticed there. Like their fellow drinkers, they were genuine, friendly, men who worked tirelessly to help their fellow "workers", true Labour Party men of the old school. In those days Alan exhibited all the sad signs of an ex-collier, broad shoulders yet stooped back, short of breath, racking cough, and so on, yet still cheerful and proud. Most of the men who visited the Hall did, but they were still real nice chaps who liked a natter about the good old days even to us young'uns. I recall well Frank always wanting to help and encourage us when he knew we were going into local industry, all he ever wanted to do was help his fellow Foresters (as long as we'd paid our Union dues of course ... when the 3 day week came in abt 1979? we apprentices were the only workers rattling around the giant Ranks machine shops, "why did we join the TU ?, we're not allowed to strike!" ;-)
Mind, Frank had a tough argumentative side too; if you accidentally dropped a ball rather than bowled it when playing skittles on their expensive granite alley, or worse let your metal chair leg lean on it, then woebetide you !!

I so recall the stunned look on his face(where's that photo?), and other's of the old guard, around 1992 the evening our lifelong school friend Gill Eagles got married. Sadly we'd all graduated & moved away by then to find work, London, Oxford, Cornwall, Services; but the old friends met up the night before at "our" local (less Gill of course). Frank was clearly pleased about the boost in income and, on hearing why we were back in town, promised a free drink for Gill when he next saw her, perhaps quietly hoping it wouldn't be for several months. Next evening after the wedding at St Stephens, reception at Minsterworth Village Hall (muddy football in best suits!), then coach back to her mum's garden party (Frank(insurance) & Audrey, Lower Station Street), Gill suddenly stopped the coach. Us "young" 'uns trooped into "the Miners" and Gill as usual sank a quick pint of stout, BUT still in her traditional long white wedding dress !. Frank bless him bought her the promised drink, unusually speechless !. (Where IS that photo?).
Nowadays the Hall is a sad shadow of it's former glory, like most pubs suffering a lack of trade and investment, but I still always call in for a "quick un" & a chat when at mum's.

Last year I was sadly unable to attend Frank's funeral but he deserved the great turnout, see photo below. Sure, not everyone shared his sometimes outdated views on Local or National Government aka staunch old-school Labour, but my did he care about and fight for the people he'd always lived and worked alongside, the Foresters.

RIP Frank, a great man of Cinderford & Dean,
a gratefull Jeff.

A few pictures & articles
http://www.cinderfordforester.co.uk/news.cfm?id=33306
http://www.theforester.co.uk/news.cfm?id=35025&headline=Public%20farewell%20to%20Frank
http://way-mark.co.uk/foresthaven/historic/hstcin0g.htm

1901
James Beard abt 1853 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Hannah Beard abt 1855 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
James Beard abt 1883 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Mennie Beard abt 1885 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Bessie Beard abt 1887 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Tom Beard abt 1890 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Fred Beard abt 1892 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Frank Beard abt 1894 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Florrie Beard abt 1898 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Thomas Howells abt 1863 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Boarder East Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1914
Month: Apr
Day: 14
Surname: BEARD
Forenames: James
Residence: Upper Bilson
Age_at_death: 61 years
Officiating_Minister: James Lawton Vicar
Event: Burial
Cause_of_death:
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/14
Page_No: 49
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

1891
James Biard abt 1854 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Hanna Biard abt 1855 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
James Biard abt 1883 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Minnie Biard abt 1885 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Bessie Biard Jabt 1887 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Thomas Biard Jabt 1889 East Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Henry Palmer abt 1864 Ebrond Lodger East Dean, Gloucestershire
Jas Wilkins abt 1872 Layston, Gloucestershire, England Lodger East Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1878
Month: Nov
Day: 9
Grooms_Surname: BEARD
Grooms_Forenames: James
Grooms_Age: 23
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Collier
Grooms_Residence: Woodside
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Beard
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Henry
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Brides_Surname: HOWELLS
Brides_Forenames: Hannah
Brides_Age: 24
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation: [not stated]
Brides_Residence: Kensley Lodge
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Howells
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Tho[ma]s.
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Woodman
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: He marks; she signs
Witness_1: John Howells
Witness_2: Eliza Ann Howells
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: W[illia]m Lynes
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/1 IN 1/5
Page_Number: 142
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St John

1871
Henry Beard 45
Caroline Beard 45
James Beard 17
John Beard 12
Edward Thomas 20
Harriett Morgan 2

1861
Henry Beard abt 1825 Asner, Worcestershire, England Head Hanley, Staffordshire
Caroline Beard abt 1826 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife Hanley, Staffordshire
Dina Beard abt 1851 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter Hanley, Staffordshire
James Beard abt 1853 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Hanley, Staffordshire
John Beard abt 1855 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son Hanley, Staffordshire

<><><><>> ??????

1851 Nailbridge
Henry Evans abt 1829 Newcast, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Caroline Evans abt 1828 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
William Evans abt 1848 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Dinah Evans abt 1850 Little Dean, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1859
Month: Feb
Day: 4
Grooms_Surname: BEARD
Grooms_Forenames: Henry
Grooms_Age: 29
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Shoemaker
Grooms_Residence: Bilson Woodside
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Beard
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Robert
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Labourer
Brides_Surname: JONES
Brides_Forenames: Caroline
Brides_Age: 36
Brides_Condition: Widow
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence:
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Watkins
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: James
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Farmer
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Signed
Witness_1: Samuel Davis
Witness_2: Ann [illegible]
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: Henry G. Nicholls
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes: No residence for Bride
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/6
Page_Number: 115
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

LONG-SERVING councillor and first mayor of Cinderford Frank Beard has died.

The 79-year-old died on Tuesday night at home, surrounded by his family.

Mr Beard, who used to work at Xerox, had been a district councillor from 1974 to 2007 and won his seat back again in May this year.

He served as chairman of the district council in 2006-2007 and was Cinderford's first mayor in 1978.

It also represented residents on the town and county councils.

A statement from the district council said: "It is with regret that Forest of Dean District Council announces the sad news that councillor Frank Beard passed away during the early hours of September 7 2011.

"Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues."

Name: Frank C Beard
Mother's Maiden Surname: Hall
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1932
Registration district: Westbury S.
Inferred County: Shropshire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 391

Name: Fred Beard & Jane Hall
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1918
Registration district: Westbury on Severn
Inferred County: Gloucestershire
Volume Number: 6a
Page Number: 511

Year: 1918
Month: Jan
Day: 19
Grooms_Surname: BEARD
Grooms_Forenames: Fred
Grooms_Age: 26
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Engine Driver
Grooms_Residence: Bilson
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: BEARD
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: James
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Deceased
Brides_Surname: HALL
Brides_Forenames: Jane
Brides_Age: 26
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Bilson
Brides_Fathers_Surname: HALL
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Tom
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Collier
Licence_or_Banns: Licence
Date_of_Banns:
Signature_or_Mark: Both Sign
Witness_1: John Hall
Witness_2: Florrie Beard
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: James Lawton Vicar
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/10
Page_Number: 80
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook

1911 Upper Bilson Road, Cinderford, Glos
James Beard 58
Hannah Beard 56
Tom Beard 21
Fred Beard 19
Florence Beard 13

1901
James Beard abt 1853 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Head East Dean, Gloucestershire
Hannah Beard abt 1855 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Wife East Dean, Gloucestershire
James Beard abt 1883 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Mennie Beard abt 1885 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Bessie Beard abt 1887 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Tom Beard abt 1890 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Fred Beard abt 1892 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Frank Beard abt 1894 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Son East Dean, Gloucestershire
Florrie Beard abt 1898 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Daughter East Dean, Gloucestershire
Thomas Howells abt 1863 Cinderford, Gloucestershire, England Boarder East Dean, Gloucestershire

Year: 1902
Month: Dec
Day: 23
Parents_Surname: BEARD
Child_Forenames: Fred
Fathers_Forenames: James
Mothers_Forenames: Hannah
Mothers_Surname:
Residence: Upper Bilson Cinderford
Occupation: Collier
Officiating_Minister: N Newby Thacklands Curate
Event: Baptism
Memoranda: Born Jan 31st 1892
Notes:
Register_Reference: P109 IN 1/5
Page_Number: 96
Parish_Chapel: Drybrook