Track to the future for rail professor

HULME visit. . . . Prof Smith with former Latin teacher Bernard Counsell and pupils Ashleigh Cruse and Oliver Cunningham

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A world-renowned engineer from Saddleworth is set to become the head of his profession
Railway specialist Professor Roderick Smith returned to the borough to visit his former schools yesterday, speaking to pupils at Friezland Primary School, Greenfield, about everything from arithmetic and high-speed trains to climbing.

He also visited Hulme Grammar School, his former secondary school.

The Professor is preparing to take over as president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and he told the Oldham Chronicle: “This is the first time I have walked through the doors at Friezland since 1959. It was so much part of my life then and my mum, Gladys, taught here.

“This is a very nostalgic time for me. I am revisiting my old haunts because I take over as president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, which is the head of my profession.

“I have got to prepare a big welcome address, where it is traditional that you recount your career and the important influences on your life.”

Professor Smith (63), Royal Academy of Engineering rail research professor at Imperial College London, has written more than 300 publications on metal fatigue and fracture.

He is a frequent expert witness in legal cases involving railway engineering and assisted the investigation into the Hillsborough disaster.

His current work includes looking at the effects of volcanic ash on jet engines to try and prevent a repeat of the Icelandic ash cloud which grounded planes across Europe.

He is also advising the Government on the high-speed rail line which could cut journey times from Manchester to London to an hour.

Professor Smith lived in Manchester Road, Greenfield, and his father, Eric, was a former head teacher at Saddleworth School.

He cited his grandfather as one of his engineering influences and said: “He was a plate layer, which really was a very humble job, looking after a length of the railway line in Greenfield which is now the linear park.

“I used to walk up and down the line with him, it became part of my life.

“All these things happening now are because we do not have people who walk the line.”

The local hills also inspired his love of climbing and he is a member of Alpine, the world’s oldest mountaineering club.

“From a very young age I was always fascinated by the hills and used to go walking by myself,” he added.

“Then I got introduced to rock climbing on the gritstone edges near here and the quarries.”