Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
This is clearly a difficult one to write about. I look out my window everyday and see the ferries shuffling too and fro. They are a fantastic sight and of course we all take them for granted in many ways. The prospect therefore of one of them sinking doesnt bear thinking about for even a moment.
But on this day in 1987 just such a ferry, the Herald of Free Enterprise, sank outside Zeebrugge. It was just a mere 100 yards from shore and the whole thing capsized in a staggeringly short 90 seconds and went down.
I probably wouldnt be talking about this at all if I hadnt heard a piece about the horrors of it all on R4 this morning...when an eye witness decribed how the vessel suddenly turned on its side. The wall became the floor and people fell terribly. There were cuts and broken bones, and then the worst of all nightmares, the water started to come in. Children screamed for their mummies and daddies, and the parents screamed for their kids.
193 people died.
I didnt live in Dover then, so I dont know first hand what it was like in the town here, but it must have been horrible, as indeed it must have been in Zeebrugge.
The operating company Townsend Thoresen, a company many of us who didnt live here would have been familiar with, through holidays and so on, has clearly vanished off the scene. I dont know what became of them afterwards but maybe some of you guys can fill us in.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
There is a service this morning being held at St Marys at 11.00am and at the same time a group of seamen are holding a separate non religious based service on the seafront also at 11.00am.
A number of the seamen were disgruntled that following the closure of the seamens hostel in January of this year that without consultation it was decided to hold the memorial service at St Marys hence this breakaway memorial service on the seafront.
This a little known fact and therefore an exclusive for the Doverforum.So you have a choice of venues for todays act of rememberance.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
Thanks for that information Marek. The people attending the services will have a good chance to reflect on the tragedy and murmer a heart felt prayer or two.
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
Again a sad day for Dover,I remember the day well as I was late turn at Dover Priory,we played football the following morning and no one really wanted to play when we heard that one of the opposite players was on that crew,amazingly he was in fact off that day.As I was fixture secretary for the Dover Sunday Football League I and Tom Donnelly attended every funeral of all those who played football,I think it was 8 all together including 2 in one day,and included a great mate of mine Alan Medhurst.
Intrestingly the football league made the sun soon after as it attempted to fine the clubs for not playing thier games as per league rules.Each club was called before the League,and at my suggestion we fined the clubs and donated the money to a charity of thier choice and then the League donated money as well in memory of the players who tragically went off to work and didn't come home.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
No matter how many years pass by, time never seems to heal the eternal sadness of this terrible tragedy, with such an enormous loss of life, a very sad reflective day today.
Terry Nunn
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
To answer your question Paul, TT were taken over by P&O.
I was involved in recording the inquest for the Coroner to aid the writing of the transcripts. I was there for most days. Most of the time the inquest was held in the Connaught Hall, however because of the "What's New" exhibition the last days were moved to a rather cramped No 1 Court.
When the jury were asked for their verdict, there was a communal sharp intake of breath from everyone. There then followed a shocked 2 seconds of silence before the press corps made a dash for the doors to report the findings.
It is something I will never forget.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Terry Nunn- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,316
PS The Coroner's Officer was PC Bill Maddocks (father of Julie, now with KOS Group), his deputy was PC Mick Kearney. Neither were the same after.
Terry
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
Guest 671- Registered: 4 May 2008
- Posts: 2,095
It was a terrible tragedy and one I will never forget. I was working on the Herald only 2 month's before the tragedy and I can remember standing on Deal seafront, looking across the channel while the whole struggle was unfolding. My heart goes out to all who suffered and those who lost their loved ones and to the many heroes that emerged from that awful night.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
yes its a very sad day indeed.if i rember rightly p&o had already took over townsend thoressen ferries at the time of the disarster.i new some of the crew as i worked with some of them on other ships.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
I rember that night, sat in the Conservative Club numbed by what we heard happened.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
I recall seeing the live news reports and pictures showing the Herald of Free Enterprise outside Zeebrugge which will forever be imprinted on my mind. A very sad day with a massive loss of life, my thoughts go out to those left behind.
This tragedy will live with me too as with many others, I was actually taken into Buckland hospital the day after the disaster, the mood was undescribeable, how many people were affected by this was quite surreal. I was only on one of my visits, and when I returned home and reported that I had been in Dover, many at home had thought I was on the ferry.
My heart and blessings go to all that were involved in that day, I am sure it has been a hard memory to live with. x x
Guest 652- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 595
Bringing this day to the top again, we have a memorial window in St Mary's church, tucked in a corner, difficult to see, we have a memorial wood, a tree planted for every one that lost their lives at Whitfield, also tucked away, wouldn't it be nice or better for a memorial for all to see on the sea front, with the names of every one that died.
Just a thought
Sheila
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
good point sheila, we have a memorial to those tragic chinese people that were trying to enter the country illegally.
i like the memorial in the church together with the book, but a seafront memorial would be very fitting.
i did not live here then but understand that an incredible number of families were affected, through family members and friends.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Reminder of the service at St Mary's starting at 11 am.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
I did not attend this year,lots of memories.I pace myself these days.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,879
This tragedy will never be forgotten by those who lost relatives, friends or were somehow involved however remotely that may be.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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PatrickS
- Location: Marine Parade, Dover
- Registered: 19 Sep 2015
- Posts: 448
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
What a tortured life this poor bloke must have led for nearly 30 years, will always be remembered for his tragic human error and not the heroics afterwards when he realised what had happened.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/dover/news/seaman-haunted-by-ferry-disaster-121619/Andy B
- Location: dover
- Registered: 10 Nov 2012
- Posts: 1,818
My cousin who i think was in the duty free shop had swopped her shift with someone else so was not onboard that night,fortunatly the girl she swopped with survived the tragedy,my wife was unlucky to lose her uncle who was a chef onboard.Such a terrible night.
