A portrait of the greatly under appreciated engineering genius who was Salford Corporation Borough Engineer. His classic book "The River Irwell" tells of times before the Manchester Ship Canal was built, of rowing on the Irwell, and how the river was used as a highway. His engineering skills produced new approaches and designs to handle sewage waste, and to try and solve the annual floods the Irwell inflicted on Lower Broughton. Jospeh does not feature in Who Was Who and similar publications, but many people from Salford and beyond owe him a debt of gratitude. KH