Alfred Wainwright was a lifelong Blackburn Rovers fan and a founder member of the Blackburn Rovers Supporters Club. He had no time for organised religion, and was agnostic.
Alferd Wainwright started work as an office boy in Blackburn Borough Engineer's Department. He spent several years studying at night school, gaining qualifications in accountancy which enabled him to further his career at Blackburn Borough Council. Even when a child Wainwright walked a great deal, up to 20 miles at a time; he showed a great interest in drawing and cartography, producing his own maps of England and his local area.
Blackburn’s £12 million Wainwright Bridge was formally opened on 27th June 2008 with local MP Jack Straw there to cut the ribbon. John Burland, Press and Publicity Officer of the Wainwright Society, was enrolled to assist.
Pupils from St Anne’s Roman Catholic Primary School became the first people to cross the bridge to loud applause from the assembled crowd.