One such moment sits within our heritage.
During the 1920s, Jack Beagelman established a chauffeur business operating from Sussex Lodge Garage in W2, London. It was a true family operation, with his brother Sydney and sister Diana both part of the business. In the years that followed, this would evolve into a broader travel business in the 1950s and beyond.
In 1939, at the outbreak of the Second World War, many of Jack’s cousins had already been called up to serve. Jack and Sydney were waiting for their own call up papers.
As fuel shortages took hold, operations were forced to stop.
Then, unexpectedly, the situation changed.
Officials from the UK Government’s Ministry of Defence arrived with a directive. The business was to resume operations immediately. Fuel would be provided, but under strict conditions. The work would fall under the Official Secrets Act.
There was no choice.
The Government needed to move key individuals discreetly across London. They were targets, and visibility carried risk. The business, already established and trusted, was uniquely positioned to do so.
This was not business as usual.
The chauffeurs, entrusted with these journeys, were operating in a city under constant threat. They risked their lives to move government figures safely and discreetly through London, often navigating blackout conditions and active bombing.
Operations were coordinated under radio control. “Lionhead” referred to the base, with chauffeurs identified by surname. Instructions would come through quietly and precisely.
“Lionhead to chauffeur Manning…”
Jack Beagelman continued to operate the business throughout the Blitz, around the clock.
A Duty Carried in Silence
There was no recognition for this work.
Only responsibility.
Many of those transported were well known figures of the time, yet the role required absolute discretion. Nothing was spoken of. Nothing was recorded.
The fleet itself reflected a different era. Vehicles such as the Austin 7 and Humber Snipe were used. The latter, in its more refined form, offered a level of comfort that endured even in the most difficult conditions, with plush carpet, a decanter of whisky for gentlemen, and a silver compact set for ladies.
Even then, service and care did not disappear.
They endured.
On one occasion, Jack collected a friend who had been caught in a blast. He drove him directly to Paddington Hospital, only realising upon arrival that what he thought was perspiration was in fact blood from a head wound, something he would later refer to as one explanation for his hair loss.
Moments like these were not exceptional.
They were part of daily life.
What Was Learned
Moments like these shape how you think.
They teach you to remain calm when others cannot. To act decisively when information is incomplete. To understand that responsibility extends far beyond the immediate task.
Above all, they instil a duty of care.
A responsibility not just to deliver a service, but to protect the individual behind it.
These are not processes learned overnight.
They are instincts, formed over time and carried forward.
Carried Through Generations
That mindset did not stay in the past.
It passed from Jack Beagelman to his son, Michael, and continues today through the next generation, with Joshua Beagelman leading MB Private Clients as Managing Director.
Across decades, that same approach has been tested in very different environments.
From assisting clients during major global events such as the Mumbai attacks, to navigating complex and high risk situations across regions such as Russia, where a client has credited us with saving his life, to present day geopolitical tensions in the Middle East where we continue to safely repatriate clients, the role has remained unchanged.
To be present.
To think clearly.
To act when it matters most.
Today
At MB Private Clients, we aim to prevent issues before they arise.
But when circumstances change, as they inevitably do, we are structured to respond. Calmly. Precisely. Effectively.
This is where our heritage truly matters.
Because looking after clients in times of uncertainty is not something we have learned recently. It is something embedded in how we think.
Our clients move freely, knowing that behind every journey is a team thinking ahead, adapting in real time, and safeguarding what matters most.
As one client put it:
“I owe thanks to my trusted travel agent, who seems to keep a candle burning every time the proverbial hits the fan.”
A Defining Principle
This is not just part of our history.
It shapes how we operate today.
A constant presence. A steady hand. A guardian angel on your shoulder.
