Hannah and I watched the turning on of the new Clifton Suspension bridge lights and the spectacular firework display last night to mark the 200^th anniversary of Isambard Brunel. It was lovely to see the banks and hills jostling with people making the evening one big promotion and celebration of civil engineering even if under the name of one man.

Current literature and media purports that Brunel is uniquely special. The last New Civil Engineer asks why we have not had such a character since 1806. Reasons being aired include planning permission, health and safety, apprenticeship to Marc Brunel and so site engineer at 17, Brunel doing many ‘firsts’ in engineering, working from first principles and as Adam Hart-Davis said prior to last nights count down Brunel was extravagant. I think Brunel is incredible but having such public resonance is due to the perpetual hype, numerous biographies and legends of “infallible genius and inexhaustible energy” of a little man in a big top hat.