Abberton Reservoir awarded blue plaque by Visit Essex
Visit Essex hopes the campaign will inspire residents to discover more about the people and places on their doorsteps
Following a public campaign, Abberton Reservoir has been awarded a blue plaque by Visit Essex.
The public was invited to nominate events, people, or places that make Essex unique, and 300 responses were received.
A judging panel decided that Abberton Reservoir would emerge victorious, and receive a blue plaque.
It was chosen as it played an important role in World War II. The RAF 617 squadron team were in charge of dropping the ‘bouncing bomb’ and they practised their dare devil flight over Abberton reservoir. Their actions were made famous in the 1955 film ‘The Dam Busters’.
Councillor Mark Durham, Chair of Visit Essex, said:
"It was very difficult picking a winner. We wanted something that had a lasting legacy.
"It's a really significant reservoir obviously for water storage. But as a wildlife reserve, it really is one of the most significant in the county, as well as it's historic significance."
He said the public campaign may run again next year and said it was "amazing" to read through everyone's submissions.
"I was blown away when I saw 300."
He also told us how important it is to remember the efforts of the RAF squadron that carried out the dam busting.
"The Second World War was 80 plus years ago now. I think it is really important to commemorate the sacrifice that people made, and particularly on that very raid, which was a top secret air raid into the heart of Germany.
"It was an extremely dangerous raid, and sadly many people that partook in that didn't come back that night.
"It was successful, it broke a couple of the dams which flooded the Ruhr Valley, which was a very valuable site for the German war industries at the time.
"I think it is really important that we acknowledge our history."
"It's really important to promote our great county, and the historic places, and the historic people in it."