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Inauguration ceremony JLP01_08_051269
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Inauguration ceremony JLP01_08_051269
M1, Junction 10, Slip End, Central Bedfordshire. Harold Watkinson, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, setting a seal into the concrete inauguration slab for the first section of the London to Yorkshire Motorway at Slip End near Luton.
Sir Owen Williams, the Consulting Engineer, is stood next to Harold Watkinson. At the inauguration ceremony, Harold Watkinson also set off a klaxon horn as a signal to the drivers of the excavating machines to begin work. The ceremony was attended by Sir John William Laing and Sir John Maurice Laing. Among the guests were representatives of the five counties which the road will pass through
Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places
Media ID 24083896
© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection
1950s Ceremony Construction Motorway People
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a momentous occasion in British history - the inauguration ceremony of the London to Yorkshire Motorway. The image showcases Harold Watkinson, the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, as he sets a seal into the concrete inauguration slab for the first section of this groundbreaking motorway at Slip End near Luton. Standing proudly next to Watkinson is Sir Owen Williams, the Consulting Engineer responsible for overseeing this ambitious project. Together, they symbolize determination and progress as they embark on transforming transportation infrastructure in England. During this historic event, Watkinson also activated a klaxon horn, signaling to drivers operating excavating machines that it was time to commence construction. This symbolic act marked not only the beginning of physical work but also represented hope for improved connectivity between London and Yorkshire. The ceremony attracted esteemed guests such as Sir John William Laing and Sir John Maurice Laing, along with representatives from each county that would be traversed by this revolutionary road network. This remarkable photograph serves as a testament to human ingenuity and ambition during an era defined by rapid development. It encapsulates both excitement and anticipation surrounding this transformative project that would shape travel patterns across England for generations to come.
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