Murdoch's Connection: Name for new Princes Quay footbridge in Hull revealed as pioneering female surgeon tops public vote

The Princes Quay footbridge is currently under construction and 55,000 people took part in a Highways England survey to choose a name that honours an icon of Hull.

The bridge over the A63, which will improve access to areas such as the regenerated Fruit Market, will be called Murdoch's Connection in tribute to pioneering surgeon Dr Mary Murdoch, who received 36 per cent of the vote - the majority of those cast.

Dr Murdoch was originally proposed by pupils from two local schools, Newland Girls' and Archbishop Sentamu Academy, who were asked to nominate inspirational figures from Hull's history before a judging panel whittled them down to a shortlist of five. These five names - Dr Murdoch, World War Two veteran Thomas Ransom, slavery abolitionist William Wilberforce, rugby league referee Julia Lee and Triple Trawler Tragedy fishing safety campaigner Lillian Bilocca - were then put to the public.

Highways England returned to the two schools to ask pupils to come up with a name for the bridge that included a reference to Murdoch, and the children chose Murdoch's Connection.

Murdoch’s Connection will link the city centre to the marina, waterfront and Fruit Market. The structure crosses the dual carriageway of the A63, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to safely cross the road, while easing congestion on the A63 as the traffic flow will be improved once existing pedestrian crossings are removed.

The bridge will open to the public this autumn.

Dr Murdoch, who died aged 51 in 1916, was the city's first female GP and the house surgeon at the Victoria Hospital for Sick Children on Park Street at a time when there were few women working as doctors. She also founded the Hull Women's Suffrage Society.

Honouring her contribution to medicine is thought to be fitting at a time of public health crisis. She also died of influenza just two years before the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918.

The circumstances of her death were themselves heroic, as she fell ill after trekking through knee-deep snow to reach a patient after a Zeppelin raid on Hull during World War One.

Highways England senior project manager James Leeming said: “Murdoch’s Connection is a great choice because it will literally connect the centre of Hull to many of the city’s most important areas.

“As the country continues to battle the biggest public health crisis in many years, it is fitting that we have this opportunity to honour our first female GP. Dr Murdoch did so much for this city, from being a surgeon for sick children to founding Hull Women’s Suffrage Society. We are delighted to immortalise her in this way.”

A sign celebrating the life and achievements of Dr Murdoch will take pride of place on the new bridge.

Hull City Council deputy leader Coun Daren Hale said: “Naming the bridge after Hull’s first female GP is a testament to what our residents value in this city.

“Celebrating some of the city’s most impactful figures has been something we pride ourselves on, and I look forward to hearing the name being used by residents and visitors alike.

“I look forward to the opening of Murdoch’s Connection, and seeing residents use this link between our wonderful waterfront to the heart of the city.”

Who was Dr Mary Murdoch?

Dr Murdoch qualified as a GP in 1896 and campaigned to improve living conditions in Hull.

She founded the first creche in Hull, a school for mothers and the Hull Women's Suffrage Society, which was part of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Society.

She also loved driving and became the first woman in the city to own a car - a De Dion.

In 1914 a local newspaper recorded that the GP was driving in Beverley when she was caught breaking the 5mph speed limit and charged with reckless driving.

A policeman claimed the doctor was going at between 18mph and 20mph - a speed the prosecutor at Beverley police court later described as 'suicidal'.

She was fined £3.

Local historian Dr Robb Robinson said: "We've been doing work on Dr Mary Murdoch - she was a recipient of one of the 'Hull 100' plaques and she will be included in a book we are writing.

"She was an amazing woman and it's quite clear she used her car to deal with medical emergencies.

"Everybody remarked she lived life at top speed.

"She is a very modern woman. She was incredibly selfless - the way she died demonstrated that. In poor health at the time she waded through knee-deep snow when called out to see a patient after a Zeppelin raid in 1916.

"She succumbed to influenza in March 1916 and at her funeral quite rightly her car led the funeral procession.

"I can't think of anyone better to name the bridge after."