Crossrail chairman rewarded with knighthood

Crossrail chairman rewarded with knighthood – jp

A knighthood for Crossrail chairman Terry Morgan and a CBE for crane-owner-turned-property-developer Martin Ainscough were among the few gongs handed to construction industry personnel in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2016.

Above: Sir Terry Morgan

Terry Morgan, who began his career as a craft apprentice at Lucas Girling, was knighted “for services to UK infrastructure, skills and employment”.

Sir Terry Morgan was appointed as Crossrail chairman in 2009 and chair of the HS2 College governing body in 2015. Last year he was appointed by the government to lead the development of a transport infrastructure skills strategy.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “I am delighted that Terry Morgan has been honoured for all the extraordinary work he has done in overseeing the delivery of the Crossrail project and developing the Government’s transport infrastructure skills strategy.

“By placing engineering skills development at the heart of Crossrail he has shown that delivering huge infrastructure projects on time and on budget and investing in skills go hand in hand. As a former apprentice himself, Sir Terry has inspired a new generation of apprentices and encouraged more women and young people into this vital sector, whatever their background and aspirations. He has been both a leader to his peers across industry and a relentless champion for vocational skills. This honour is a well-deserved recognition for many years of hard work.”

Martin Ainscough, who along with his brothers built up the UK’s biggest crane hire firm before selling up for £255m in 2007, was recognised with a CBE for his charity work, through the Martin & Judith Ainscough Charity Trust.

There was also an OBE for Stephen Huntington, chairman and chief executive of HR Wallingford, “for services to engineering and environmental hydraulics”.

And there was an MBE for Nilesh Sachdev, a former member of the Green Construction Board and former property director of J Sainsbury, who was recognised “for services to energy efficiency and sustainability in the retail sector”.