18th birthday proposal, holidays and roadworks among Tamar Bridge memories
The link between Cornwall and Devon is celebrating its 60th birthday!
Last updated 24th Oct 2021
You have been sharing some of your lasting memories of the Tamar Bridge as the link between Cornwall and Devon celebrates its 60th birthday.
They include a marriage proposal on a woman's 18th birthday, family holidays to the Duchy and, dare we say it, roadworks!
The Tamar Bridge opened on this day (October 24th) in 1961 and when it was built, it was expected to last 120 years.
It means the link route is officially middle-aged, as it turns 60 on October 24th 2021.
Sharon was among those to share her memories on Facebook, commenting: "My proposal in the middle of the bridge on my 18th birthday and 26 years later still happily married".
Paul said the bridge has a "special place in his heart", after stopping on the Devon side when they came to Cornwall on holiday as kids.
Kate described loving to spot the warships on the river", while Teresa remembers running across the bridge in the 80s to raise money for a new scanner at Treliske, dressed as a cat!
Others joked "it's very bridge like, I often remember it as a bridgey bridge" and Rich simply said "constant roadworks".
On Sunday, a wreath is being laid to remember the seven people who died while building the bridge.
General Manager David List said: "It's a very poignant time. Unfortunately, in the era in which this bridge was built, it was not unusual for people to die building it and all around the country you'll see big projects with plaques nearby and unfortunately we have a plaque near our bridge; we'll be thinking of those people and the sacrifice they made".
A parade of vintage cars will travel across the bridge on Sunday, the likes of which may well have been the first to make the journey after it was built.
Chair of the Tamar Historic Transport Club, Dave Fry, said: "Quite a few of the cars, like a Zodiac which is a 58 - and there's a couple of 59 cars and late 40s cars - those are the sort of cars that would've been driving over on that first day".
A week of celebrations is planned during half-term to celebrate the bridge's major milestone.