A further two Nottingham Express Transit Citadis trams have received names this week with the two local heroes to be honoured this time being Rebecca Adlington OBE and Doug Scott CBE. The two trams to receive the names are 231 and 225 respectively.
Swimmer Rebecca Adlington OBE is a double Olympic Gold Medalist having won at the 2008 Bejing Olympics. She has also won medals at the World, Commonwealth and European championships. Rebecca hails from Mansfield and spent time training in Nottingham before retiring in 2013.
Doug Scott CBE was born in Nottingham and has been described as “one of Britain’s all-time great high altitude mountaineers” having climbed the highest peak on each of the seven continents. He also became, in 1975, the first Briton – along with Dougal Halston – to climb the South West Face of Everest.
The namings took place at Wilkinson Street Depot on Wednesday 27th April but unfortunately neither recipient was able to attend.
Both Rebecca and Doug were nominated by members of the public ahead of the opening of the Phase Two extensions with one further name set to be revealed shortly which will adorn 216.
It is indeed right that notable citizens of Nottingham are commemorated by having Trams named after them. But wait a Minute! Is this the same city which persists in covering tram windows with advertising so preventing visitors from seeing the city?
_ Strange!
Simple answer to that one – money talks!
Looking through this list of notable citzens of Nottinghamshire I am struck by a glaring omission. Despite the popular and/or worthy credentials of the names honoured, where is the name of our most illustrious son, Thomas Hawksley? Hawksley [1807-1893] was born in Arnold, and was the civil engineer who built the first successful, constantly pressurised, water distribution system here in Nottingham in 1831. This is the same concept in use today and, by preventing contamination entering the the pipes, has saved thousands, if not millions, of lives worldwide. Perhaps when the next tram comes up for naming Thomas Hawkins could be given his due consideration.