Long-time CIHT members Dennis Parkinson and past President of CIHT Chris Jackson have combined, with others, to produce a book with the above tittle. The 93- page book tells how the motorway network was built, as seen through the eyes of two Contractors. It is dedicated to all those men and women who participated in the construction of the Network in the period 1960-1990.
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The 18 sections chronicle how each section was won (by being the lowest bidder) through the construction phase and includes how ‘unforeseen circumstances’ affected progress and subsequently cost. The book includes 40 images in both colour and b&w in order to enhance the text.
Comparisons are drawn with the navvies who built the canals and railways. All were men of their time who shared hard work, pride in the job and real satisfaction at the end of each contract. The story closes in 1990 with the record-breaking final section of the M40 which is described in some detail
Reviews of early copies have included comments such as ‘an impressive publication’.’ most interesting’ and also, with a poignant social media post showing a 92 year old man hunched over in a chair reading the book and a caption by his granddaughter saying ‘ever since I gave him that fab book, he won’t put it down’
Members of a certain age and those in retirement may look back with a pang of nostalgia as memories are recalled of a national crusade to get the Network built.
Younger members will wonder how all this was achieved without computers, mobile phones, gps etc. They might also perhaps think that they would not fancy working on site, seven long days each week but equally might have revelled in the individual freedom, lack of systems, audits and all the trappings of modern technology.
The book is recommended for all those interested in the subject matter or simply as a good historical engineering story to read on a dark night or two.
The book is available from Nantwich bookshop , please ring 01270 611665 and priced at £14.99 plus p&p. It is a ‘not for profit ‘ book so any income goes towards the next print run.
Image of book cover of the Men and Machines That Built The Motorways
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