my house, I look down on the finest harbour in the East.Plans to build bridges to connect Wellington Island with Ernakulam and Mattancherry began in 1935. In 1936, the Government of India declared Kochi as a major port. The first railway bridge, known as Venduruthy Bridge, along with two parallel road bridges connecting Venduruthy with the mainland Kochi was constructed in 1938 under the supervision of Bristow. Rail transport to the Wellington Island became possible with the arrival of Venduruthy bridge. On 2 June 1939, a ship docked at the wharf for the first time for official loading. The government were also able to build a strategic air base on Wellington Island. Mattancherry Bridge is a bridge built under Bristow's supervision in 1940 to connect Willington Island and Fort Kochi. The bridge built across the Vembanad lake was also Kerala's first self-elevating bridge. The construction was in such a way that the middle span of the bridge could be raised up so that cargo ships could pass to Kochi port. In this way, ships could reach the port without hindrance and vehicles could travel freely to both sides. Bristow returned to England on 13 April 1941. He served at the Manchester University for some time. He died in September 1966 at the age of 85. Other works Cochin Saga Sir Robert Bristow in his book "Cochin Saga" (1959) tells the history of foreign government and business adventures in Kerala, South India, by Arabs, Romans, Venetians, Dutch, and British. Cochin Saga is considered to be an authentic record of events during the period 1920-41, a period which witnessed milestone events in Kochi. The Lotus Club Bristow is also noted for co-founding with his wife the Lotus Club in 1931. Baring the prevailing social stigma, the Bristows opened the club to people of all races and genders, doing full justice to its objective of being "a club where men, women and children of all communities would have the opportunity of meeting together and cultivating mutual acquaintance and promoting good fellowship." Thus, the club became the first non-white-exclusive club in the state. Legacy Robert Bristow is credited for transforming Kochi from a mere roadstead into a modern harbour. As a tribute to Bristow, one of the major roads in the Willington Island is named after him. See also British East India Company History of Kochi History of Kerala Cochin Port Maritime Heritage Museum