Six members of Dunfermline RSGS were lucky enough to be invited to the official opening of the new Queensferry Crossing on the morning of 4 September.  This invitation stemmed from the successful involvement of the Dunfermline Local Group in two events organised by the new bridge consortium during the construction process.

Following two successive days when large numbers of people, who had been successful in a ballot, had taken the opportunity to walk over the new bridge the official opening by Her Majesty The Queen took place as part of a lavish ceremony with guests seated in grandstands near the northern bridgehead. However, unlike the previous two days when then the bridge walkers were blessed by good weather the rain descended on onlookers as the ceremony began but did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of the thousands who attended and those who entertained them.

As we were reminded by both the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, and by Her Majesty, the three bridges which span the River Forth between North and South Queensferry each represent tremendous engineering achievements. They have been built over three different centuries and the latter two bridges, the Forth Road Bridge and the Queensferry Crossing, have both been opened by Queen Elizabeth, albeit fifty three years to the day apart.  There is no doubt that the newest bridge,with its cable stay design, looks very impressive indeed and will serve those seeking to travel to and from Fife and the Lothians for years to come.

Thank you to Alister Hendrie, Chair of the RSGS Dunfermline Group and Vice Chair of the RSGS Board, for writing this piece for us.  Great to have some RSGS eye witnesses to such an historical day. 

The Red Arrows perform over the Forth Bridges