Saddleworth’s Albert Wood to be celebrated

Albert Wood was a founder member of the Institute of Physics, and was awarded the title Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Saddleworth Parish Council is taking forward plans to give Uppermill-born physicist Albert Wood OBE a blue plaque.

The plaque will mark Mr Wood's incredible achievements in helping to develop sonar – and thus saving thousands - if not millions - of lives during the second world war.

Local resident Roy Crozier brought the proposal to the Council, having read about the physicist in the newsletter of the Saddleworth Historical Society.

The Council is now investigating the exact location of his place of birth on Pickhill in Uppermill, and looking at options for where to locate a blue plaque and more information on the physicist.

Parish Council Chairman Barbara Beeley said: “We are very lucky in Saddleworth to have such a rich heritage.

"However, relatively few people are aware of Albert Wood, whose pioneering work on the development of sonar – then called ASDICS – was responsible for saving thousands of  lives, and later changing the direction of the second world war.”

AB Wood, who studied at Manchester University, joined a team of notable scientists led by Sir Ernest Rutherford (later Lord Rutherford), including Henry Moseley, Hans Geiger, Niels Bohr, Ernest Marsden, James Chadwick, George de Hevesy and Charles Galton Darwin.

He was a founder member of the Institute of Physics, and was awarded the title Officer of the Order of the British Empire, in recognition of his work on dismantling a German magnetic mine at the start of the Second World War.

Ms Beeley added: “We were delighted to hear from Roy, who has highlighted the incredible work of a son of Saddleworth.

"I hope we can help more people to hear and be inspired by his story, and the impact that he had at the highest levels of science.”

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