Severn Trent and family of late historian honours Dambusters legacy with replica ‘bouncing bomb’ handover to 617 Squadron  

Severn Trent and the family of a late historian have honoured the RAF Dambusters and their links to Derwent Dam by donating a replica ‘bouncing bomb’ to the famous 617 Squadron.

Modern-day members of the Squadron travelled to the Peak District site to attend a special handover ceremony at the reservoir, which supplies quality water to people across Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire.

The life-sized replica had been part of a former Dambuster museum housed at the Dam, but will now go on display again at the official 617 Squadron’s HQ at RAF Marham, Norfolk.

The Derwent Dam Museum was founded by the late local historian Vic Hallam in the 1980s and has been closed for around ten years. Now after discussions between his family, Severn Trent and the RAF, the new home has been found for the replica at RAF Marham.

The original ‘bouncing bomb’ was invented by Derbyshire-born engineer Sir Barnes Wallis, and was codenamed ‘UPKEEP’ before the top-secret raids on dams in Germany on May 16 and 17 in 1943.

Flight Lieutenant Ady, MBE, from 617 Squadron attended the special handover and said: “On behalf of 617 Squadron, I’m delighted to accept the handover of the replica UPKEEP mine. 

“Its presence will be a constant reminder to all who work or visit the squadron of the significant history of the Dams raids - of the men who conducted the raid in 1943 and the innovation that the raid signified.”

The Dambusters were led by Wing Commander Guy Gibson and practiced low-flying raids in Lancaster Bombers across the waters of Derwent in early 1943, ahead of the successful mission targeting dams in Germany.

A total of eight planes were damaged or shot down during Operation Chastise on May 16 and 17, with the loss of 53 lives – but the mission was a success with two dams breached. Wing Commander Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his leadership of the legendary Dambusters and personal bravery. 

The replica bomb will be moved to RAF Marham this summer, where it will go on permanent display to those on base and visitors, including dignitaries.

Members of Severn Trent’s Armed Forces Network also attended the handover ceremony at Derwent Dam, including George Cook.

George, a Bombardier in the 1st Royal Horse Artillery, said: “We're hugely proud of our links with the Dambusters at Severn Trent and this donation is a wonderful way to honour that legacy.

“It was a privilege to meet 617 Squadron members to talk about the Dambusters and discuss the valuable work of our group, which helps former service personnel to find fulfilling new careers in the water industry.”

The Derwent Dam Museum was founded by passionate historian Vic in the 1980s. His family has worked closely with Severn Trent and the RAF to generously support the donation.

The news comes as Derwent Dam marks its 110th anniversary, a milestone celebrated by the release of recent archive images showing original Dam-builders from all those years ago. 

The story of Derwent highlights the central role reservoirs play in the 12hr rain-to-tap journey of our water, involving thousands of Severn Trent people.  It stores large amounts of water, which all comes from the Peak District, and actively improves water quality by giving the reservoir time to benefit from natural purification, including sedimentation. 

The rain to tap journey then continues with water flowing to one of Severn Trent’s Derbyshire treatment works for further treatment to the highest standard. It is then piped to homes where people can enjoy some of the best water in the world – 12 hours of quality and care behind every turn of the tap. 

Archive photos of the brave workers who built famous Severn Trent dam 110 years ago to supply quality water to millions

They’re the stunning historic images showing how Severn Trent’s famous Derwent Dam was built 110 years ago – providing quality water to millions of people across Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

And this week the water company is releasing archive pictures of the brave Dam-Builders who delivered the magnificent feat of engineering in the Peak District, which took 14 years to complete and involved around 1,000 workers.

The focus on the Dam comes just days before another milestone anniversary - the 81^st year since VE Day on May 8. Last year saw a giant Union Jack flashed on the giant walls to honour the RAF Dambusters, who carried out practice runs at the site before heroic raids on German dams in May 1943.

The story of Derwent highlights the central role reservoirs play in the 12hr rain-to-tap journey of our water, involving thousands of Severn Trent people.  It stores billions of litres of water, which all comes from the Peak District, and actively improves water quality by giving the reservoir time to benefit from natural purification, including sedimentation.

The rain to tap journey then continues with water flowing to Severn Trent’s Bamford treatment works for further treatment to the highest standard. It is then piped to homes where people can enjoy some of the best water in the world – 12 hours of quality and care behind every turn of the tap.

The then Derby Corporation, a forerunner of Severn Trent, drew up the plans for the Upper Derwent Valley (UDV) to create Derwent Reservoir and Dam in 1898, as shown in some of the fascinating archive images.  Nearby Howden Reservoir was also built as part of the original plans, with Ladybower Reservoir added in 1945, completing the three magnificent UDV reservoirs.

Construction of the Gothic-style Derwent Dam began in 1902, under chief engineer Edward Sandeman, and took until 1916 to complete. The huge stones that formed the Dam were transported from quarries at Bole Hill, Grindleford, by a specially created railway at Bamford and lifted into place by cranes, also seen in the new images.

The fascinating pictures also show gangs of cloth-capped men working on the many parts of the project, including tunnel and tower building, plus Dam-wall construction.

The Derwent and Howden projects had around 1,000 people working on them, with the majority housed in pre-fab style properties in nearby Birchinlee that became known as ‘Tin Town’.

Today Derwent reservoir is almost two miles long and covers some 175 acres and is around 114ft deep at its maximum depth. It is surrounded by stunning woodlands, full of birds, bats and wildlife.

The site attracts tourists from all over the world who enjoy its rural beauty or to honour the Dambusters 617 Squadron who used replica bombs over the Dam, before those daring raids in Germany on May 16 and 17 in 1943.

Donna Marshall, Severn Trent visitor engagement manager said: “Derwent Dam is stunning and a truly incredible feat of engineering. We are delighted to release these images to mark the 110^th anniversary of the completion of the Dam, which is a great way to remember all those brave workers involved in its construction.”

Doug Clarke, Severn Trent Water Resources Lead, said: “The construction of Derwent Dam 110 years ago was groundbreaking and shows the importance of ‘past, present and future’ investment plans.

“Generations of people have benefitted and many more will benefit in the future because of that investment in Derwent and the work of these Dam-Builders.

“What the Derwent story shows is how reservoirs are hugely important to water management, storing water during increasingly common wet winters so we can use it during more frequent hot summers. 

“Around a third of our water is stored in reservoirs like Derwent Valley and this stored water is critical for us in managing supplies throughout the year.  We never know what the British weather is going to do and April was quite dry with lower than average rainfall, showing how important it was filling the reservoirs over winter and storing it ready for the year ahead.”

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