‘Morgan the Supersonic’ helped get Concorde off the ground
THE “Welsh father of Concorde” has been honoured in his hometown.
A blue plaque was unveiled in Bridgend for Sir Morien Bedford Morgan, who was from Caroline Street, Bridgend, and part of a group of young aeronautical engineers working at the Royal Aircraft Establishment in Farnborough from 1935 where he specialised in aircraft control and stability.
Concorde historians have acknowledged that without the dogged persistence of “Morgan the Supersonic”, it might never have got off the ground.
In 1956, as chairman of the Supersonic Transport Aircraft Committee, he was in on the plan to build Britain’s first supersonic passenger aircraft from the start.
Knighted in 1969, Sir Morien became master of Downing College, Cambridge in 1972 but did not completely sever his links with the aeronautical industry. He died in 1978.
The plaque, which is placed near to where he was born, was unveiled by his daughter Professor
Deryn Watson.
She said: “It was a huge pleasure and privilege to be asked by Bridgend council to unveil a blue plaque to commemorate my father.”
She added: “My father was a Welshman to the core, never losing his Welsh accent, played the piano, sang in choirs, smoked a pipe, and frequently had a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. The plaque honours his status, but also keeps alive our memories of the man.”
The plaque is part of a new scheme financed by Bridgend Town Council to commemorate notable people, places and events within wards of Morfa, Oldcastle and Newcastle.
Also honoured in the first wave of the initiative was the Dowager Countess of Dunraven, Caroline Wyndham.
In 1857, she paid for a pipeline to be laid from Sarn to a water trough with a tap on the corner of Court Road/Derwyn Road. The water was clean, free and available for everyone to use.
The grateful community responded by renaming Eastgate Street Caroline Street in her honour. In 1860, she paid for the Randall Memorial drinking fountain to be erected in memory of John Randall, who managed her estates for 33 years. The plaque has been installed at the Grade II listed landmark. Lady Dunraven, who unveiled the honour, said: “I am delighted to be at the first blue plaque unveiling, to honour the First Countess, and the long association between The Dunraven Estate and Bridgend town.”