BICENTENARY OF THE BIRTH OF I. K. BRUNEL

Motion Text

That this House notes the bicentenary of the birth on 9th April 1806 of the great engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel; acknowledges that much of Brunel's work endures to this day, most notably the line of the Great Western Railway from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads, the extension of the line to Cornwall including the Royal Albert Bridge over the Tamar and the Taff Vale Railway from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare; further notes that the greatest concentration of Brunel's achievements was in the City of Bristol where he designed the Clifton Suspension Bridge and built the world's first iron-clad propeller-driven ocean-going liner, the SS Great Britain; further notes that Bristol plans a series of commemorative events throughout 2006; and recognises that the achievements of Brunel in the 19th century stand as an inspiration to the engineers and designers of today.