Interview with Digby Woods

Digby recalls his interview with Les Davis for the MKDC job of engineering balancing lakes. There were just two MKDC engineers at that early stage, starting from scratch on this work. Specifications had to be approved by a Panel 1 Engineer, under the 1930 Reservoirs Act; John Stewart, a member of the team who drew up the drainage strategy for the MK Master Plan, took this role. Digby explains the requirements for the lakes: to prevent a faster flow of water from new housing developments, and hence reduce flooding. He gives details of the construction of the major lakes, Willen and Caldecotte, to manage flows at North and South extremes of major MK development areas. Lake beds are impervious Oxford Clay; the ‘overburden’ above this (topsoil, stones, etc.) was first removed and used for landscaping, some clay also removed for damming material and embankments (such as the A5D at Caldecotte. He mentions the huge ‘scrapers’ used to dig out the lake bed to a depth of at least two metres, and the discovery of the ichthyosaur bones at Caldecotte. Early temporary lakes at Walton and Woughton were constructed quickly, before the major project at Willen could be built. Engineers work to strict rules to ensure public safety under the Reservoirs Act, but Digby stresses that, cooperating with landscape architects, they also aimed for lakes to be attractive public amenities.

In 1974, Digby transferred his team and their portfolio from MKDC to Anglian Water; later, Anglia Water agreed to his bold proposal to transfer the work to him as basis for him to practice as consulting engineer. Taking with him one technician, Alan Cox, and Angela, a tracer, he set up and developed a successful practice with partner (from 1984) Andy Warren and 20 staff. In 1988 Digby retired, selling his share to Keith Mason. He now lives on the Isle of Wight. Looking back on MKDC, he is most proud of the MK lakes; in his opinion, MK is ‘excellent’! Once the Covid pandemic is over, he intends to visit and walk the Loughton and Ouzel Valleys to see how they have developed.