Dambusters raid remembered at Farncombe Estate

The 70^th anniversary of the Dambusters raid to destroy the Ruhr dams has been marked with a special memorial event at Farncombe Estate near Broadway.

 

Farncombe has a special link with the Dambusters as one of the RAF pilots who took part lived at the Estate’s Grade 11 listed Foxhill Manor.

 

Henry Maudslay DFC was B Flight Commander of the 617 Squadron which took part in the raid but tragically he was killed on his return home from the daring mission, on 17^th May 1943. At Farncombe – an award-winning conference centre and leisure venue - a new courtyard development bears his name and one of the bedrooms is even numbered 617.

 

More than 60 people, many with RAF connections, gathered at a short church service in Willersey before making their way to Farncombe’s Maudslay Court. Here they viewed a commemorative picture of Henry before he set off on the raids and a plaque in the entrance hall dedicated to Henry and his fellow RAF pilots. They then went onto Foxhill Manor, the home of the Maudslay family between 1937 and 1954.

 

Among those paying their respects were three members of the Maudslay family: Jamie Maudslay, a second cousin, his wife Arabella and their 17-year-old son Henry. Henry, who attends Eton College like his famous forebear, is second cousin twice removed from the Dambusters hero. 

 

Jamie Maudslay said: "As soon as we walked into Maudslay Court and I saw the portrait, I said he's the spitting image of my father."

 

Farncombe Estate’s Operations Manager Richard Howdle said of the remembrance event:

 

“It was a real pleasure to have members of the Maudslay family turn out to remember Henry, a true British hero.  We are proud of our association with the Maudslay family name. In 2011 Henry’s niece, Victoria Trevelyan, officially opened Maudslay Court, while room 617 was opened by Wing Commander Keith Taylor of OC 617 Squadron on the same day.”