Kielder Water pioneer Edward Wrangham dies

Jul 29 2009 by Joanne Butcher, The Journal

HE was a visionary who is widely accepted as the genius behind the stunning success of Kielder Water, and yesterday tributes were paid to Edward Wrangham who has died aged 81.

The Northumberland landowner, environmentalist and mountaineer who was awarded the OBE passed away on June 23.

Mr Wrangham, of Harehope Hall near Alnwick, was widely known as Ted and was instrumental in making plans for Kielder Water, Britain’s biggest artificial lake, a reality.

As chairman of water resources and land drainage of the Northumberland River Authority, he was widely regarded as the father of the ambitious project.

Despite criticism, he recognised the potential of a 200-billion-litre lake in the North Tyne valley as a source of clean fresh water and open space for the region. For 23 years, from 1959 to 1982, Mr Wrangham guided the project through a succession of public inquiries and environmental objections.

Today, Kielder Water’s 27-mile shoreline and surrounding man-made forest attracts more than 250,000 visitors a year. Mr Wrangham later received an OBE for his work in the water industry and his enthusiastic promotion of outdoor activities.

John Cuthbert, managing director of Northumbrian Water and chair of Kielder Partnership, paid tribute to Mr Wrangham’s determination.

He said: “Without Wrangham’s faith and vision, the North East would not boast northern Europe’s largest man-made lake, Kielder Water, which safeguards supplies for the region.

“Kielder Water and Forest Park would not be what it is today: an area of stunning beauty, leisure and recreation. Our thoughts are with his family at this time and we will continue to develop the possibilities he recognised almost 30 years ago.” Edward Addison Wrangham was born in London on February 6, 1928. His father was Sir Geoffrey Wrangham QC, a lawyer and a county court judge. His mother, from a Northumberland landowning family, died when he was five.