大象传媒

Peter Bazalgette is an international media mogul, jet setting all over the world commissioning programmes for the television company he chairs which is worth 1.4 billion pounds.

He is the man behind such programmes as Big Brother and Ground Force so critics of this new genre of TV might not be surprised to find one of his ancestors was big in sewage.

In fact great great grandfather Sir Joseph Bazalgette was no more than 5 foot 4 inches in height but his drive and ambition led to new heights in the construction of a sewage system for the capital that largely survives today and was one of the most admired engineering feats of his generation.

It was at Crossness where we met. The imposing Victorian building a testament to Sir Joseph's achievement and still stands today. Parts are already being lovingly restored by volunteers but it's hoped a lottery grant will bring the historic site back to its former glory and offer a heart to the new Thames Gateway building springing up all around it.

There is no doubt about Peter's pride in his relatives' achievements. He modestly doesn't even want to compare his own achievements in communicating to millions of people to those of Sir Joe, how he lovingly refers to him. In his own lifetime Sir Joe was feted by the leading politicians of the day who put their faith in him to rescue them from the "great stink" and the typhoid and choleras that had plagued the capital.

He did not let them down and his great great grandson does not want Londoners to let him down now in protecting his legacy.听听听听听