Educated at
Kilburn Grammar School, Beavis joined the Royal Air Force in 1947 and was
commissioned two years later. In June 1961 Beavis set the record for the fastest non-stop flight from the UK to
Australia which he established by flying a
Vulcan from
RAF Scampton to
RAAF Richmond in just over 20 hours. He became
Officer Commanding No. 10 Squadron flying
VC10s in 1966 and Group Captain Flying at
RAF Akrotiri in 1968. He was appointed Assistant Director of Defence Policy at the
Ministry of Defence in 1971, Senior Air Staff Officer at Headquarters
RAF Germany in 1976 and Director General of RAF Training in 1977. He went on to be Commandant of the
RAF Staff College, Bracknell in 1980, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief at
Support Command in 1981 and Deputy Commander-in-Chief
Allied Forces Central Europe in 1984 before retiring in 1987. ==Family==