Beverley Lawrence Beech
Beverley Ann Lawrence Beech (12 November 1944 – 25 February 2023) was a Welsh author, chair of the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS) from 1977 to 2017 and an active campaigner against the medicalisation of pregnancy and birth. She raised awareness of the harm that can be done to women in obstetrics during labour and the importance of women being aware of their rights so they can make their own decisions about the place and manner of the birth of their children. She also counselled for a more positive attitude towards home births. Early life Lawrence was born in Tenby, Wales. She was the oldest of four siblings. Her mother was Josephine née Wickland and her father was Charles Lawrence, a naval Lieutenant. She attended schools in Malta and Cornwall until the age of 16. Activism After the traumatic experience of giving birth to her first son in 1972, involving a 36-hour labour which she later found out involved an artificial labour induction for no medical reason, Beech determined to act. She noticed a letter in The Times penned by Jean Robinson about the overuse of artificial induction and contacted the writer. Robinson suggested Beech join the