OBE for pioneer road sign designer

As Britain’s most viewed artist, it is almost impossible to leave home without seeing her work, which has also been credited with saving lives.

Yet very few people know who Margaret Calvert is. That might change, though, now that the country’s most prolific road sign designer has received an OBE for services to typography and road safety.

Nominated in the Queen’s birthday honours list this summer, Ms Calvert, 80, was yesterday presented with her award by the Prince of Wales.

She was hired by the government in 1957 and designed the pictogram style now well known to drivers, including the silhouette of a man digging to warn of roadworks ahead and the image of two children hand-in-hand to indicate that a school is nearby.