Talks
Brunel – Father, Son & Grandson
by Bill McNaught
Date: Tuesday 21 November 2023
The talk explores the lives of three generations of one of the greatest Victorian engineering families, and their remarkable achievements.
The talk explores the lives of three generations of one of the greatest Victorian engineering families, and their remarkable achievements.
The father, Marc Brunel (son of a Normandy farmer), who provided the boots for Wellington’s Army at Waterloo and ship’s blocks for Nelson’s Navy at Trafalgar, and who also built the first tunnel under the Thames.
The son, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the most famous member of the family, who built the Great Western Railway, and the three largest ships in the world at the time, the SS Great Western, The SS Great Britain and the SS Great Eastern.
The grandson, Henry Brunel, another great engineer, but less well-known today, who helped design Tower Bridge and other structures, as well as designing another ship.
Bill McNaught is a retired Managing Director who spent most of his career in the aerospace and defence industries, including 25 years with Westland Helicopters. Following his retirement in 2008 he developed an interest in preparing talks on interesting historical characters and events, which he now presents to numerous clubs and societies. He is also Chairman of his local u3a, President of Seaford Probus Club and a RVS volunteer.