50th Anniversary Celebration


The team of Heriot-Watt University graduates currently working on the Queensferry Crossing.


Front row: Iain Cookson, Jack Cook, Keith Dunsire, David Climie, Owen Goody, Ian MacKinnon, Heather Plummer. Back row: Duncan Johnston, Douglas Jack, Grant Dudgeon, Nick Conroy, Andrew MacKay, Michael Notarangelo.


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Hector Woodhouse, Heriot-Watt University graduate engineer who worked on the first Forth Road Bridge in 1961.


GET OUT AND WALK ABOUT, SPEAK TO EVERYBODY BECAUSE YOU’RE A TEAM, AND BE PROUD OF THAT BRIDGE.


When it comes to words of wisdom that have helped him along the way, Hector recalls as a young graduate engineer being pulled into the office of the resident engineer on the Forth Road Bridge, Jack Hamilton, who felt he had been a little too strict with the contractors. “He tapped this big pile of books in front of him, which were the contract documents, and he said: 'Hector, going by the letter will put any contractor out of business. Use judgement. Judgement, Hector.'”


And what of his own advice to David, as he works on the new bridge? “Get out and walk about, speak to everybody because you’re a team, and be proud of that bridge.”


As David joins us again to have his photograph taken with Hector, the two men talk about the Queensferry Crossing being something of a meeting place for engineers, many of whom have already crossed paths in the past, in different roles, on different projects and for different employers.


But it seems it has also become a meeting place for Heriot-Watt alumni. And while it shouldn’t be a surprise that so many Heriot-Watt University graduates have had a hand in both bridges, in this 50th year since the University was granted its Royal Charter the River Forth provides the perfect place to pause and acknowledge the impact Heriot-Watt graduates have had over those 50 years, carrying on Scotland's proud tradition of exporting world-class engineering around the globe. Here’s to the next 50.


Opened September 4, 1964 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.


Over 24 million vehicles cross the bridge each year.


Nearly 40,000 tonnes of steel and 125,000 cubic metres of concrete went into its construction.


The full length of the bridge is 2.5 km.


49,280 km of wire weighing 6,350 tonnes make up the two main cables from which the suspended deck hangs.


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