Remembering when the wind blew
FIFTEEN years ago this month England was hit by a hurricane – an unpredicted force that tore shreds out of Suffolk.On the night of October 16/17, 1987, Suffolk suffered a chaotic mass of felled trees, twisted metal and fallen masonry as the storm swept across the county.
FIFTEEN years ago this month England was hit by a hurricane – an unpredicted force that tore shreds out of Suffolk.
On the night of October 16/17, 1987, Suffolk suffered a chaotic mass of felled trees, twisted metal and fallen masonry as the storm swept across the county.
And this was just hours after weatherman Michael Fish famously told the nation that a woman had called the BBC to say she'd heard a hurricane was on the way. He assured viewers there was no need to worry as there wasn't!
But there was – and Suffolk was transformed in to a scene of mayhem with uprooted trees blocking roads, extensive damage to many buildings and cars and other vehicles flipped over like toys.
You may also want to watch:
Fifteen years on, we will be looking back on the Great Storm of 1987 – one of those rare events which everyone remembers what they were doing.
So tell us you memories.
Most Read
- 1 Unex starts work at former Ipswich Debenhams store
- 2 Border Force 'urgently responding' to incident off the Harwich coast
- 3 'Small number' of street workers in Ipswich, 15 years after Steve Wright murders
- 4 Christmas light DJ to open new Ipswich bar
- 5 New movie to be shot in Suffolk in 2022, author announces
- 6 What are the Covid rates in Suffolk — and could Christmas be affected?
- 7 Cardinal Practice 'access issues' to be discussed at key NHS meeting
- 8 Emergency services conduct search and rescue mission off Harwich coast
- 9 Hospital visits to be suspended due to Covid infection rise
- 10 Two people rescued after search off Harwich coast
Many of you will have had damage to property and cars – but what do you remember of other incidents connected to this upheaval.
Rendlesham Forest took a real beating with hundreds of trees succumbing to the storm while Christchurch Park was also badly hit.
Foxhall Stadium, Ipswich Airport, Shotley Marina and the Orwell Bridge were also affected – as was Felixstowe Port, which was closed for several days.
Maybe you were one of thousands of school children across the county who woke that morning to discover they had a day off school. Or maybe your lasting memory of the storm and the following days was the astonishing community spirit which Suffolk showed in getting itself back to normal again.
Whatever your memories – let us know.
Send your letters – to arrive by first post Monday – to: Hurricane Memories, Evening Star Newsdesk, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starnews@eveningstar.co.uk
