Full name: Percy Shaw Born: 15th April 1890 Invention/Achievement: 'Cats Eyes' reflective road studs Date of introduction/Achievement: Patented 1934 Died: 1st September 1976

It's such a simple idea - the "Cat's Eye", a reflective road stud that mirrors back car headlights and keeps us on the straight and narrow, but In fact, the Cat's Eye is quite a sophisticated and efficient piece of road safety equipment.  

At its heart is the "Cat's Eye" a robust reflective lens invented in 1928 for use in advertising signs.  Two of these are set in a rubber dome, itself mounted in a cast-iron housing.  After rain, water collects in the cast iron base and when a passing vehicle presses the rubber mount down over a fixed rubber wiper, the water helps cleans the lenses, maintaining their reflectivity.  It's a device that has probably saved hundreds of lives and was the brainchild of one man, Percy Shaw.  

Percy was born in Halifax, Yorkshire, in 1890 into a large family.  Leaving school at 13, he tried many jobs, eventually joining his father in a small business, repairing tools during World War I.  After his father died in 1929, Shaw set up on his own business repairing roads on contract.  

He told various versions of how he got the idea for the Cat's Eye reflectors, one says he saw his car headlights reflected in an actual cat's eyes.  Another that he was inspired by shiny tram rails, or that reflective studs in a road sign lit up his light bulb.  

Whatever the source, in 1934 he took out a patent for the idea and on 15^th March 1935 founded Reflecting Roadstuds Ltd to manufacture the product.  At first take-up of the product was slow.  However, the blackout of street lighting during World War II made night driving hazardous.  

Approval from the Ministry of Transport led to widespread adoption of the Cat's Eyes and soon the Halifax factory was producing a million units a year.  In 1965 Shaw was awarded the OBE for services to exports.  

Shaw never married and remained living in his childhood home in Boothtown, Halifax, his only extravagances a Rolls Royce and four television sets constantly switched on with the sound turned down.  

He died aged 86 on 1^st September 1976.