The M6 is 50 years old -= the Accrington connection
 

Today's national news is that the M6 , our first motorway, is 50yrs old. What it hasn't covered is that the man behind it, (Sir) James Drake, was an Accrington (Grammar School) lad. He was Lancashire's County (Council's) Bridgemaster . Before that he has been Blackpool's Borough Engineer, responsible, amongst other things, for the building of Talbot Road Bus Station, which was the first multi-storey car park in Europe.

Drake was succeeded at County Hall by Harry Yeadon. Yeadon Way in Blackpool, which takes motorists into Blackpool afer the M65 along the old railway line, is named after him. You are not going to believe this - HE was an Accrington (Grammar School) lad too.

You'll read nowt like this on the Burnley or Blackburn websites. We have summat to be proud of - Accrington should be acclaimed.

Re: The M6 is 50 years old -= the Accrington connection
 

Thanks for that info, Bob. Accy really does seem to have more than its fair share of famous/distinguished people for a town of its size. Yet another way in which the town "punches above its weight". :)

Re: The M6 is 50 years old -= the Accrington connection
 

Introduction

Believe he lived at Altham West if my memory serves me correctly.

Anyone see the programme on BBC 4...The Secret Life of the Motorway?

Turned out to be much more interesting than it sounds!

Re: The M6 is 50 years old -= the Accrington connection
 

yep another feather in accys hat, many of the guys that built it though were paddys, was with one last night n he told me he never knew how long he'd been here, until he saw the news yesterday tea-time.:)

Re: The M6 is 50 years old -= the Accrington connection
 

There is a display in Preston .... quite interesting: all about the history:

Re: The M6 is 50 years old -= the Accrington connection
 

The story is also retold in this weekend's Observer.

Funny that.:rolleyes:

Re: The M6 is 50 years old -= the Accrington connection
 

The bearings for the expansion joints under the bridges were made in Accrington at Lang Bridges