Rees Jeffreys Road Fund celebrates 75 years with new access to Rees Jeffreys' key work

Transport charity Rees Jeffreys Road Fund is celebrating its 75th anniversary, and using the occasion to recognise its visionary founder, William Rees Jeffreys

The inscription on the monument at High and Over Roadside Rest says “It was the wish of Inscription: It was the wish of William Rees Jeffreys, 1972 – 1954, that others should share his enjoyment of this view: Photo credits: Rees Jeffreys Road Fund

The inscription on the monument at High and Over Roadside Rest says “It was the wish of Inscription: It was the wish of William Rees Jeffreys, 1972 – 1954, that others should share his enjoyment of this view: Photo credits: Rees Jeffreys Road Fund

Rees Jeffreys Road Fund trustees celebrate the Fund’s 75th anniversary at the High and Over Roadside Rest

Rees Jeffreys Road Fund trustees celebrate the Fund’s 75th anniversary at the High and Over Roadside Rest

William Rees Jeffreys set up the Fund in 1950, just before he died, having dedicated his life to campaigning for and delivering a modern, planned and efficient road network for the UK.  Much of the layout and nature of the road network in the UK today is influenced by his thinking and innovation.

To mark the occasion, it’s now possible to read a searchable digital version of William’s book, The king’s Highway, available online. The King’s Highway, published by The Batchworth Press in 1949, holds many lessons and insights for today’s student of road development and maintenance – covering everything from technical advancements through to political governance.

Though collaboration with The British Library, Rees Jeffreys Road Fund is able to provide a searchable PDF copy of The King’s Highway on its website, so that today’s highways professionals can draw on William Rees Jeffreys’s astonishing insights and vision.

Chair of Trustees Andy Graham said: “At Rees Jeffreys Road Fund we believe roads really matter to all of us, whether we’re making journeys as drivers, passengers, wheelers or walkers.  We continue the life work of our founder William Rees Jeffreys, investing his legacy in grants for innovative projects that will help shape the future of our roads, and bursaries to support the skills development and training of current and future highways professionals.”

The trustees celebrated the anniversary of the Fund by visiting High and Over Roadside Rest. This is one of over 75 safe places to pull off the road funded by the charity over the last 75 years in accordance with William’s vision, allowing a spectacular view to be enjoyed by all road users.  

At the recent Highways UK conference, the Fund released a short video capturing highlights about the Fund and its founder: https://youtu.be/HWLjYw5voLc