My platform for success

HONOUR . . . Professor Roderick Smith

Full steam ahead for rail professor
A RENOWNED railway engineer from Saddleworth is following in the footsteps of George Stephenson.

Professor Roderick Smith has been appointed the 126th president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers — the position first held by the railway pioneer.

The research professor of advanced railway engineering at Imperial College attended Friezland Primary and Hulme Grammar schools.

Professor Smith has written more than 300 publications on metal fatigue and fracture, and is a frequent expert witness in legal cases involving railway engineering.

He assisted the investigation into the 1989 Hillsborough disaster and is advising the Government on the high-speed rail line which could cut journey times from Manchester to London to an hour.

His father his was a former head teacher at Saddleworth School while he cites his grandfather, a platelayer on the railway line in Greenfield, as one of his engineering influences.

“I am proud to be the 126th president of this great institution,” said Professor Smith

“It’s important to learn from and feel inspired by great engineering heritage.

“I want my year in office to be about looking forwards and working to get to grips with serious engineering challenges facing this country in the areas of energy, transport and the environment.”