Crowds flock to 50th anniversary air disaster commemoration at Fernhurst

A large crowd gathered outside Fernhurst Village Hall for the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the 50th anniversary of one of the worst civil aviation disasters in UK history.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Nov 2017, 11:16 BST
Updated 12th Dec 2017, 01:31 BST

This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.

ks171113-5 Mid Fern Plane Crash phot kate Crowds attending the unveiling.ks171113-5 SUS-170511-173539008ks171113-5 Mid Fern Plane Crash phot kate Crowds attending the unveiling.ks171113-5 SUS-170511-173539008
ks171113-5 Mid Fern Plane Crash phot kate Crowds attending the unveiling.ks171113-5 SUS-170511-173539008

It was unveiled by the Rev Nick Haigh during a two day exhibition of the crash when an Iberian Airways aeroplane crashed on Blackdown on November 4, 1967.

St Margaret’s Church was also full for a memorial service conducted by Mr Haigh.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Among those who attended the events were chairman of Fernhurst Parish Council Heather Bicknell and MP Gillian Keegan as well as many of those who attended the crash as police officers, firefighters and villagers who rallied to help.

ks171113-2 Mid Fern Plane Crash phot kate Organizer Christine Maynard with a piece of the aircraft on dispay.ks171113-2 SUS-170511-173624008ks171113-2 Mid Fern Plane Crash phot kate Organizer Christine Maynard with a piece of the aircraft on dispay.ks171113-2 SUS-170511-173624008
ks171113-2 Mid Fern Plane Crash phot kate Organizer Christine Maynard with a piece of the aircraft on dispay.ks171113-2 SUS-170511-173624008

The exhibition was mounted by a team from Fernhurst Archives headed by director Christine Maynard who said nearly 950 people attended the exhibition: “They were queueing to get in and it surpassed our wildest dreams,” she said. “What was also wonderful was the amount of people recorded their memories for us at the exhibition.”

She thanked Elaine Ireland who masterminded the display boards and a video. She also thanked Rosemary Foster and her volunteers who provided refreshments.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

ks171113-3 Mid Fern Plane Crash phot kate Tony Gilks, left, police constable for the west sussex constabulary at the time, and Malcolm Barrett, detective constable.ks171113-3 SUS-170511-173635008ks171113-3 Mid Fern Plane Crash phot kate Tony Gilks, left, police constable for the west sussex constabulary at the time, and Malcolm Barrett, detective constable.ks171113-3 SUS-170511-173635008
ks171113-3 Mid Fern Plane Crash phot kate Tony Gilks, left, police constable for the west sussex constabulary at the time, and Malcolm Barrett, detective constable.ks171113-3 SUS-170511-173635008

1) Make our website your homepage at www.midhurstandpetworth.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MidhurstandPetworthObserver

3) Follow us on Twitter @mid_pet_obs

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Midhurst and Petworth Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.

Related topics:Gillian Keegan