Bomb rescued from deep on view

HISTORY fans were given the opportunity to see a legendary bomb recovered by a Macclesfield scuba team.

The Highball bouncing bomb was retrieved from the bottom of a Scottish loch by members of East Cheshire Sub-Aqua Club.

It had been submerged for more than 50 years after being dropped as part of training during the Second World War, and is now being kept at the Macclesfield club’s HQ in Lower Bank Street before it is taken on to a museum in Surrey.

Highballs were the naval version of the bouncing bombs used in the Dambusters raid and were also designed by Sir Barnes Wallis.

It was retrievable as the training version was not filled with explosives.

More than 100 people attended a special event run by the club, where they learned about the diving expedition and saw the bomb for themselves. Among the guests was Macclesfield MP David Rutley.

He said: “It was an honour to meet with members of Macclesfield Sub Aqua Club and to hear about the logistics of the remarkable expedition.

“I am pleased that the important artefacts were brought to Macclesfield for residents to see, before going on display in museums. I would like to say a big thank you to the club for all their hard work in making this possible.”

The proceeds from the event will contribute towards the wider restoration work of the Highballs.