A Timeless Tale from Our Memory Cafe
An Extraordinary Rescue and a Lifelong Friendship.
A story told at Our Memory Cafe
Our Memory Cafe is a special place where stories find a home, and today we want to share with you a jaw-dropping story from one of our attendees.
On January 4th, 1969, in his early days as a young police officer, he played a crucial role in saving a baby girl’s life after a plane crash near Gatwick airport.
He told us all about it, it was fascinating! How a Boeing 727 airliner on its approach to Gatwick Airport during heavy fog, hit a chimney pot of a house, crashed through trees and slid 200 yards before completely demolishing a house on Fernhill Lane in Horley, and then caught fire.
Forty-eight passengers and crew members died in the crash.
The couple living in the house were both killed but their 18-month-old baby daughter was found alive.
The incident gained widespread attention in national news and newspapers.
As we approach the 55th anniversary of this significant event, he shared with us that he remains in touch with the baby girl he rescued!
If you would like to read more about the plane crash – ITV made a feature on the 50th Anniversary, 5 years ago. Which you can view below.
https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2019-01-04/50-years-on-fatal-gatwick-plane-crash-remembered
