We want to walk in our grandad’s footsteps
As Queensferry Crossing nears completion, a family plans to emulate the first man to cross Forth Road Bridge
HE’D waited through the night in bitterly cold winter temperatures.
And, just before dawn on January 23, 1965, James Ward stepped into the history books as the first pedestrian to cross the Forth Road Bridge.
Now, 30 years after his death, his granddaughters want to mark his passing by being the first to walk ov e r the new Queensferry Crossing. Jennifer Young and Heather McGill are planning on wearing T-shirts dedicated to their beloved grandad.
And they are hoping The Sunday Post’s coverage of his pioneering walk more than half a century ago will help make their wish come true, with a meeting to consider their request being held this week.
“Being the first person to cross the bridge was always a real source of pride for him,” said Jennifer, 46.
“The family grew up in South Queensferry, so they’d seen it being built.”
James, who was 47 at the time, was working in a local distillery when the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh officially opened it to vehicles in the autumn of 1964.
The authorities announced that pedestrians and cyclists would be allowed to cross on that January morning in 1965, and James was determined he would be the very first to take to it on foot.
“I remember my mum telling us he’d popped out for a pint on the Friday night,” says Jennifer, a legal secretar y who now lives in Glasgow.
“He’d come home to let my gran know that he planned to queue up to walk the bridge in the morning, just in case she worried about where he was.”
Crowds gathered on both sides of the Forth throughout the night, but being there from before midnight ensured James strode out ahead of everyone when the temporary barriers were lifted, just ahead of a local couple.
Three Fife school pals were the first to set off from the northern side and were so keen they sprinted the first half-mile.
Scores of cyclists also lined up to be the first bike enthusiasts over.
The bridge went on to play a massive part in James’s life.
“In his younger days he’d worked on pilot boats at Rosyth Dockyard so knew the waters,” said Jennifer.
“He ended up on rescue boats that went out whenever anyone fell or jumped from the bridge.
“One time he had helped to rescue someone and got them ashore alive.
“We heard, though, that when he went to see the man in hospital the following day he’d torn my grandad to shreds, saying he didn’t want to be saved.
“I think that really affected him and he couldn’t bring himself to do the job any longer.”
Jennifer has fond memories of James.
“He was such a character, a real larger than life figure. I’ve got great memories. There are four grandchildren and my grandad stayed
directly across from the primary school in South Queensferry.
“From the day we started school to the day we left, we went to their house for lunch.
“He’d have homemade soup, a main course and our jelly and cream ready and he used to split up me and my brother and Heather and her brother to stop any arguing.
“And all the while he’d be polishing our shoes to have us smart for going back to school.”
T he last deckingdec section of the Queensferryfer Crossing was slotted into place at the start of this month and the £1.35 billion bridge is set to open in May.
The crossing has caught the public attention to such a degree there has been huge interest in being first to set foot on it.
We have passed on a copy of our original article ahead of the meeting to consider Jennifer and Heather’s request.
“It would just be a lovely thing to do as it’ll not only be the 30th anniversary of my grandad’s death, but also 40 years since his daughter Gertrude passed way,” added Jennifer.
“I know if he were alive, he’d be first in the queue to cross again.
“We’re planning to get T-shirts or sweat- shirts printed with my grandad’s picture and images of both bridges.
“It would be like he was crossing the new bridge as well as the one he walked over.”
A spokesman for Transport Scotland said: “As one might expect, we have received many approaches regarding the opening of the Queensferry Crossing.
“The team will happily consider this request as part of plans for events to mark the occasion.”