Bridging anniversary

However, their presence, which included the Duke of Wellington, was upstaged by a group of schoolchildren.

The 12-strong collection of youngsters had been selected from Northam Junior and Infant schools and Bitterne Manor School to represent the two areas being joined together.

As the duke prepared to cut a commemorative ribbon on the middle of the bridge, however, the eager children failed to wait for their cue and rushed forward to shake hands.

Terence Henry, now 60, who was one of the youngsters selected to take part, said: "I think we might have done it a bit too early.

"I think we had a rehearsal beforehand on the bridge and were told that we had to run across to the other children to shake hands."

For the thousands of motorists who travel across the bridge in and out of the city every day, the bridge's origins is probably the last thing on their mind.

However, for those grew up in the shadow of its previous incarnations and witnessed the new structure begin to span across the River Itchen as work began, it brings back fond memories.

Mr Henry, who grew up in Britannia Road, Northam, said: "The old bridge was a very solid, cast iron structure.

"I just remember the buses used to have to go very slowly across it because it was so narrow.

"I can remember a little bit about the run-up to the bridge being built and then one day my headmaster selected me and some other children to take part in a ceremony to mark its opening.

"I can't remember why I was selected but I do remember it was a very big thing for me.

"I used to play around the old bridge, so it was very exciting to go to the new one and it meant we were going to be on the television, too, as it was being filmed.

"We all had to dress up in our best clothes and on the day itself we were all lined up and they told us what to do."

The first Northam Bridge, built in 1799, was made solely of timber and was replaced in 1889 by an iron structure which was in continuous use until July 15, 1954, nine days before building began on the third, and current, Northam Bridge.

Just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War, the council in Southampton had decided to construct a new bridge to replace the second version.

A tender for its construction was accepted in the summer of 1939 and contractors had already moved in some of their equipment by the time war was declared.

During the conflict the existing bridge suffered bomb damage and extensive repairs, and strengthening works had to be carried out during the war years.

Civic leaders put forward plans to the Ministry of Transport in 1948 to build a reinforced concrete construction.

But they were told because of the scarcity of materials like steel and cement after the war, they should investigate the use of pre-stressed concrete. Four years later building was under way.

When it was officially unveiled on October 20, 1954, it was hailed as the largest bridge of its kind in Europe.

For Joan Bennet, 78, from Woolston, the anniversary of its opening brings back fond memories.

She said: "We used to visit my cousins in Northam and when the bridge was first opened we would get the bus one way and happily walk back because we would buy a bag of sweets with the money for the return bus journey.

"In comparison, the old Northam Bridge was so uncomfortable to walk on that we got the bus both ways."

Eddie Croxson, 82, from Bitterne, said: "You really had to move with the times, especially because the old bridge was badly damaged by the bombs during the war.

"The old bridge with the speed restrictions was becoming silly. I remember once when the cars used to have to drive so slowly that the pedal cyclists would overtake the Austin Sevens!"

But, as long-suffering city motorists today know only too well, things seldom seem to run smoothly for drivers in Southampton.

Within ten years of the opening of the construction, it became a bridge of sighs for engineers because of a persistent rattle.

So began a painstaking operation to replace bolts and an expansion joint on the carriageway taking traffic out of the city, which was completed in 1969.