Sam Fay

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Sir Sam Fay (30 December 1856-30 May 1953), born in Hamble-le-Rice, Hampshire, England, was a highly-regarded manager of the London and South Western Railway, when he was seconded, in late 1891, to take charge of the almost bankrupt Midland & South Western Junction Railway (M&SWJR), which ran from Andoversford, via Swindon and Cirencester, to Cheltenham. He successfully pulled it round and out of bankruptcy, returning as superintendent of London and South Western Railway between 1899 and 1902.

Presumably as a result of his experience with the M&SWJR, Fay appears to have been head-hunted to became General Manager of the Great Central Railway. While he was successful in maintaining that as an effective railway, he was not able completely to turn round the financial position of the company, saddled as it was the enormous costs of the company's London Extension.

Fay was knighted by King George V in somewhat theatrical fashion during the royal opening of the Immingham Dock on 22 July 1912.

During the First World War he was Director-General of Movements and Railways at the War Office and a member of the Army Council. He eventually became Chairman of Beyer-Peacock.