BETHNAL GREEN UNDERGROUND DISASTER 3rd March 1943

From my collection




Bethnal Green Tube Disaster :The Stairway to Heaven Memorial

 

Original memorial plaque at the entrance to Bethnal Green Station from my collection

 

There was quite a large amount of people attending this year, the 75th anniversary.

Several survivors were in attendance. We sat behind someone who just missed being in the crush on the night of the incident.

During the service all of the victims names were read out, some by family members directly affected - Derek Spicer and Sandra Scotting. Also Patron Harry Harris and Tommy Walsh read out names. Harry Harris is a documentary maker and was, or still is a black taxi cab driver.

As the 173 names were read out a candle was lit for each person.

Two pieces of verse were read out: 'Looking Down On You,' by Joyce Hampton and 'One Night in Bethnal Green,' by Chris Stanfield and read out by Rushanara Ali, MP for Bethnal Green and Bow.

Sandra mentioned Dr. Joan Martin who died recently aged 102. She had been on duty the night of the tragedy in 1943. Her memories never faded.

After a very special service the congregation walked across the road to place tributes at the memorial before returning to the church for refreshment.

 

Sunday 4.3.2018 Commemoration service images:

 

More images 4.3.18
image 1. Tommy Walsh
image 2 General view of memorial
image 3. Harry Harris
image 4. Bab's Clark, survivor.
image 5. left to right - Sandra Scotting - Stairway To Heaven Memorial Trust Secretary; M.P. for Bethnal Green and Bow Rushanara Ali; Tower Hamlets Mayor John Biggs; and Harry Harris.
image 6. Civil Defence actors *
image 7. Harry Harris with Sandra
image 8. The candles that were lit as each victims name was read out by Fr. Alan Green.
image 9. Some of the survivors, and relatives.
image 10. The architect for the memorial Harry Paticas can be seen standing to the right and slightly above of Sandra Scotting- red scarf - (he has black hair).



* A play about the memorial is being held locally. These actors (not re enactors) came along to take part in the service.

The service was filmed by several concerns. It will appear on the 'Inside Out' programme, the London screened version tomorrow night:
Inside Out London - 05/03/2018 Go to 9 mins 30 secs.

Another company was making a documentary. Not sure when that will be screened but no doubt it will be listed on the S.T.H.M. Trust website

 

Bab's Clark's tribute to Dr.Joan Martin who died in January. (image's 2 and 4).

 

A service to remember the victims of the tube tragedy will take place this afternoon at 1400. hours at St. Johns church.

Here is a link to a BBC radio London interview about Dr. Joan Martin. This lady was a junior casualty doctor at the time of the tragedy. She often attended the commemoration services and lived to be 102 years old.

 

This years commemoration service takes place on Sunday 1st March at 2pm:

St John's Bethnal Green church then the laying of flowers after the service at the memorial next to the church.


The architect of the memorial, Harry Paticas was awarded an MBE in the New Year's honour list.


There will be an exhibition at the Bancroft Road library starting on the 6th March for four weeks called 'Women in History.' This will also feature women who were involved with the Bethnal disaster.

 

https://www.ideastore.co.uk/assets/documents/Local History Archives Online/BG Disaster WHM Exhibition Booklet FINAL UPLOAD.pdf

 

This years commemoration service has had to be cancelled but the organizers are looking into the possibility of holding an 'online service.' If this goes ahead we should hear how to access it.

Some pictures attached of actress Barbara Windsor (RIP) who attended 7th March 2010.

 

For those who may not be aware, Sandra Scotting, one of the driving forces behind establishing the memorial was in 2019 awarded the MBE for her efforts. Sandra is a quiet and reserved person and did not seek any recognition but the award was well deserved.


Sandra Scotting, who fought for Bethnal Green air raid disaster memorial, made MBE in Queen's Birthday Honours | East London Advertiser

 

Recent e-mail received from the Stairway To Heaven Memorial Trust:

I now have the details of how you can watch the Memorial Service to mark the 78th anniversary of the Bethnal Green tube disaster this coming Sunday 7th March at 2pm. Fr Alan Green, Rector of St. John on Bethnal Green Church, is kindly going to conduct the Service that you will be able to view online. . Please make sure you watch to the end as you will see the rolling photos of the disaster victims being shown. They are the photos that we projected onto the Memorial in 2018.

You can watch it live on:

Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting

Or enter the codes on the Zoom page or app: Meeting ID: 871 9807 1363 Passcode: 986480

If you cannot watch the Service on the day you can see it again on Facebook or YouTube under ‘St. John on Bethnal Green Church’.