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The Rt. Hon. Ernest Marples (facing the camera) in conversation with another man at the opening ceremony of a stretch of the M6 Motorway between North Staffordshire and Cheshire. This photograph is from a batch which is recorded in the negative register as having been taken at Knutsford. However, in December 1963 in the Laing monthly newsletter 'Team Spirit', an article records that a short ceremony occurred at Keele Service area where a film was presented to the Chairman of Staffordshire County Council. This preceded the official opening, just over two hours later, of the Hanchurch-Lymm section of the M6 by the Rt. Hon. Ernest Marples. It also mentions that the minister had a tour of the motorway by coach. The opening ceremony is known to have occurred at Knutsford but some of the photographs may also have been taken at Keele. M6 Motorway, Knutsford Service Area, Knutsford, Tabley Superior, Cheshire East, 15/11/1963. Creator: John Laing plc. (KEYSTONE/HERITAGE IMAGES/HISTORIC ENGLAND)