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New street names honour 'unsung' aviation heroes

The Watts family Photo from 1969 showing Brian Watts scrutinising the flight deck in front of the pilot on the first Concorde flightThe Watts family
Brian Watts, (L), was the senior engineer on Concorde's maiden flight in 1969

The senior engineer on Concorde's maiden flight and other unsung heroes from the UK's aviation past are to be immortalised in new street names.

Three women, who worked at the former Filton Airfield, Bristol, are amongst the "ordinary people" to be honoured at the Brabazon development.

The Heritage District has 100 homes ready for sale, set around six streets, named after "hidden" pioneers.

Andy Hawkins, whose father Ed worked in the industry for 43 years and gave his name to Hawkins Close, said: "My father would have absolutely loved it."

Flight engineer Brian Watts, who was on the first supersonic flight from Filton on 9 April, 1969, is remembered in Watts Drive.

Pedley Gardens celebrates Elizabeth Pedley, who also worked on Concorde as an electronics engineer, and was a "trailblazing" woman in her own right.

YTL Developments A computer-generated image of the new housing development with a wide road in the middle flanked by two blocks of new housingYTL Developments
Streets in the new housing development are named after pioneers in Bristol's aviation past

David Sage, whose mother Phyllis worked in the print department at British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) during the 1940s said he was honoured to have Sage Gardens named after her.

"Brabazon is steeped in history. Thousands of ordinary people came together to make that history happen. And during the World War Two my mother was one of them.

"It is such a thrill for our family to know that her contribution is being recognised in this way," he added.

The Sage family A black and white photo of the staff of the print department gathered around a table of festive food to celebrate ChristmasThe Sage family
Phyllis Sage worked in the print department at British Aircraft Corporation (BAC) during the 1940s

Director at YTL Developments Jon McDiarmid said it felt right to celebrate the pioneers' "collective spirit, which created technologies that shaped the modern world".

Smart Street takes its name from Ada Smart, who worked in the wing-making workshop during World War Two.

Yabsley Terrace is named after George Yabsley, band leader of the BAC Works brass band in the 1940s.

Aerospace Bristol Museum A black and white photo of the BAC Works brass band with George Yabsley in the centre in a black velvet uniformAerospace Bristol Museum
George Yabsley was the band leader of the BAC Works brass band and a central figure in the local community

Ed Hawkins, who worked on almost every major aircraft produced by BAC and Airbus, is remembered in Hawkins Close.

His son, Andy Hawkins, who is a current resident at Brabazon, said: "My father worked here for 43 years, alongside pretty much most of my family and neighbours.

"The fact that I now call this place home and there will be a street named after my father is really special."

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