TUNNEL

VISION

08 | BIGISSUE.COM FROM 30 NOVEMBER 2020

the big picture.

On December 1 1990, Britain joined up with France

for the fi rst time since the sinking of Doggerland in

around 6500BC.

A link between the UK and continental Europe

had long been planned, with Prime Ministers David

Lloyd George and Winston Churchill being strong

supporters of the idea at various points in their

careers. But it was under Margaret Thatcher that

plans – privately funded – were approved.

Construction of the 50.45km (31.35 mile) tunnel

costing £4.65bn (80 per cent over budget) started in

1988, taking a couple of years to meet in the middle.

The two workmen who broke through became

symbols of European union in the most literal sense;

representing the UK, Graham Fagg, his French

counterpart, Philippe Cozette.

Earlier this year, the pair reunited to reminisce

and talk, inevitably, about Brexit. Fagg (on right

of small pic) was one of the 62 per cent of Dover’s

population that voted to sever their link with the EU.

He objected to the EU becoming “a colossus,

a very expensive colossus” but agreed that the

special relationship between Britain and France

would remain, due largely to their work under the

Channel/la Manche three decades ago.

Photo:

Matt Dunham/AP/Shutterstock