Neville Drive is named after Ralph Neville (1848-1918)

Ralph Neville was known as Chairman of the Garden City Association, after whom Neville Drive was named. Neville is largely regarded as coming up with the ‘practical link’ between the garden city and co-operative housing. In 1901 Neville encouraged a group of wealthy and influential businessmen to invest into various garden city projects. Known as a skilled oarsman during his university years at Emmanuel College Cambridge, he rowed for the Emmanuel May boat in 1868 and gained recognition as a rower, showing early signs of discipline and endurance, which later contributed to his influential legal career. Although initially struggling to find success within the bar, he later gained prominence in the legal field, taking silk (becoming a Queen's Counsel) in 1888. Neville was a successful judge, especially in witness-related cases, and although initially hasty in some judgments, his decisions were rarely overturned on appeal later in his career. He handled several high-profile cases, including the Law Guarantee Trust and Accident Society case and the Osborne case. His obituary described him as a naturally gifted advocate who became a reliable, though not brilliant, lawyer through experience. He was known for his ability to handle witnesses, especially in cross-examinations, where he had no equal at the Chancery Bar. His sharp mind, physical endurance, and athletic training helped him manage a demanding workload, even as his health began to decline in his later years. Additionally, Neville was highly skilled in understanding the mindset of the judge before whom he was arguing, making him a formidable advocate in court. His life experiences within university, the court, and politics, are what ultimately enabled him to play a key role in the advancement of the Garden City movement.