The Fatal Great Storm of 1987 - 29 Years Ago Today

[Messy]

Today is the 29th anniversary of the so-called great storm that struck the south of England - the worst since 1703. Sadly 18 people died and scores hurt.

I was in the London Fire Brigade and spent all night and the next day (a 23hr shift!) at numerous incidents, which included:
>a fire in a block of flats which required us to use a 9m a ladder (we needed to tie guy lines on the ladder to prevent it blowing across the face of the building)
> the rescue of 23ish people from a luxurious Victorian mansion block where a stone staircase collapsed taking out 6 floors of the only stairs in the building(we tied ladders together to make a temporary staircase after demolishing some roof structure above to make it safeish)
> securing sheets of steel corrugated sheeting at 5th floor level to a temporary scaffolding roof as it was 'frisbeeing' down the street at 50mph. Scary stuff leaning from a swaying hydraulic platform with stuff flying around in the dark. This was before fall arrest harnesses etc

Sadly 2 Firefighters were killed in Dorset when a tree struck their old fire appliance with a wooden framed crew cab which crumbled. That took the shine off of an amazing night. Than God it happened at night though as I dread to think what the toll would have been if it had hit during a working day in the capital

Does anyone else have memories of the storm? (apologies to the northerners and Scots here where such storms are business as usual, but us soft southerners had never seen anything like it!!!!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wavHRAtv5QE" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Alexis]

Even being a Scot, I do remember this Messy. An terrible outcome with fatalities and I do remember discussing the Firefighters who gave their all that night.

I will certainly be sending my thoughts "down South" for today.

[Andyblue]

There were people calling up to say A tree had fallen down and unaware of the real extent of the effects. Anyone with a chainsaw seemed to be welcome at the roadside and the only question asked was how long they could stay. I wonder how such things would be dealt with today? Would we really turn away a helping hand?

[bernicarey]

I do remember the 'Michael Fish Factor' the previous evening, where he famously dismissed the old lady who had phoned in to ask if there was a Hurricane coming.

Being on the longitude of Nottingham, we didn't really experience much, but I remember all the TV coverage the following morning.
I'm sure it was probably widely reported at the time, but I don't recall the incident of the 2 Dorset Firefighters; terrible to think that even then there were still wooden framed vehicles in use. It's something you tend to think of stopping by the 70's, like old buses and coaches, but clearly didn't (unless they were in a really old appliance.
Perhaps next year, being the 30th Anniversary, there might be some significant coverage.

[witsd]

I lived in London then, but being five at the time, my main memory is going to school only to find out that it was closed due to the storm and then getting the day off. My memories are probably more positive than most!

There was a road closed due to a church steeple sustaining damage, but iirc, it was only a precautionary thing.

[safetygal]

they closed my school... (that's all I remember - I was 10)

like Witsd, only positive memories as it meant no school!

[grim72]

Different topic but I caught a piece on BBC News this morning about the upcoming 50th anniversary since the Aberfan disaster which I belive is this Friday. Another reminder of what can go wrong without a firm eye on safety procedures. I'm sure there'll be a few programs to mark the event, looking inot the reasons for the disaster and accounts from those that survived, and indeed lost their loved ones. I can't think of many more harrowing examples of industrial accidents - probably due to the loss of so many innocent young lives.

As for the storms of 29 years ago, surely just a wee breeze to us hardened individuals north of the border? ;-)

[Messy]

they closed my school... (that's all I remember - I was 10)

like Witsd, only positive memories as it meant no school!

You young whippersnappers! Thanks for making me feel old!

[WillPool]

Got caught up in the storm, travelling from Warminster to Chiswick.

Car broke down at Fleet services so was stranded there all night as no recovery would come out to me

Will

[jonsi]

I was on a training course at an hotel in Bath. I just remember hearing the wind howling around the building during the night then switching on breakfast TV to see Anne Diamond reading the news by candlelight, then seeing film of one of the company's Ferries (m.v Hengist) beached because of the storm.

[witsd]

You young whippersnappers! Thanks for making me feel old!

Anytime, gramps.