Alan Muir Wood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan Muir Wood
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| Born | 8 August 1921 Hampstead, London
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| Died | 1 February 2009 (aged 87) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Engineer |
| Engineering career | |
| Discipline | Civil |
| Institutions | Institution of Civil Engineers (president), British Tunnelling Society (Chairman), International Tunneling Association (honorary lifetime president) |
Sir Alan Marshall Muir Wood (8 August 1921 – 1 February 2009) was a very important British civil engineer. He was known for his amazing work on tunnels, including the famous Channel Tunnel. He helped design many big projects and led important engineering groups.
Becoming an Engineer
Early Life and School
Alan Muir Wood was born in Hampstead, London, on August 8, 1921. He went to Abbotsholme School when he was younger. After school, he studied mechanical sciences at Peterhouse, Cambridge, starting in 1940. He earned a Master of Arts degree from Cambridge University.
Serving His Country
During the Second World War, Alan Muir Wood joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR). He became an officer in the navy in 1942. He served until 1946, helping his country during the war.
Building Big Projects
Starting His Career
After leaving the navy in 1946, Muir Wood began his engineering career. He worked for the Southern Railway. Here, he helped design bridges and fix landslips near Folkestone Warren. Later, he worked for the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive. He designed and set up a special lab there to study how water moves.
Working on Tunnels
In 1952, he joined Halcrow, a big engineering company. This is where he started working on the Channel Tunnel. This was a huge project that he would work on for over 20 years!
He became an expert in building tunnels. Some of his other famous tunnel projects include:
- The Clyde Tunnel
- The Potters Bar rail tunnel
- The cargo tunnel at Heathrow Airport
- Parts of the Jubilee Line Extension for the London Underground
Muir Wood also helped design the 80-kilometer-long Orange–Fish River Tunnel in South Africa. This tunnel is one of the longest water supply tunnels in the world!
Leading the Way
Alan Muir Wood was a leader in the world of tunneling. He was the second chairman of the British Tunnelling Society. In 1974, he helped start the International Tunneling Association. He was its first president and stayed an honorary president until he passed away.
He retired from Halcrow in 1984. But he didn't stop working! He continued to give expert advice and help with special projects. He even helped save Isambard Kingdom Brunel's historic Thames Tunnel. There was a plan to cover its original lining, but Muir Wood helped stop it.
From 1977 to 1978, he was the president of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE). This is a very important role for civil engineers in Britain. He also received special degrees from the University of Dundee and Bristol University. He was even a visiting professor at Bristol University.
Awards and Recognition
Alan Muir Wood received many honors for his amazing work. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering. These are very high honors for scientists and engineers. He was also a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences.
In 1981, he became a fellow of Imperial College London and his old university, Peterhouse. On December 31, 1981, he was made a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II. This means he was given the title "Sir." The Queen officially gave him the knighthood on March 23, 1982.
Sir Alan Muir Wood passed away on February 1, 2009.
Family History
Alan Muir Wood was related to John Muir Wood. John Muir Wood was a musician, music publisher, and amateur photographer from Scotland. In 1987, Alan Muir Wood helped donate 900 of John Muir Wood's old photographs to the National Galleries of Scotland.
