A NEW memorial to mark a disaster which shook Thornaby to its core has been unveiled.

No fewer than 32 daytrippers and their bus driver died in 1975 when the brakes of their Bedford coach failed at Dibbles Bridge on the Pateley Bridge to Grassington Road, in North Yorkshire. More than 100 ambulance staff, firemen, doctors, nurses and police took part in a two-and-a-half hour rescue operation.

Families of victims, survivors, and Thornaby councillors all attended a special ceremony outside Thornaby Town Hall on Friday as the new stone memorial featuring the names of those lost was officially revealed to the public. The memorial features stone from Coldstones Quarry, in North Yorkshire, and was pushed forward by Thornaby Town Council.

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Former mayor Cllr Steve Walmsley paid tribute to disaster victims and responders – telling the crowd of the “burning desire” to erect a memorial to “truly reflect” the enormity of an accident which still remains Britain’s worst. He added: “It’s incredibly unheard of outside of Thornaby and the area directly affected.

“Hopefully this event – coupled with Derek Smith’s deeply touching documentary commissioned by Thornaby Town Council – will change that.” A 48-minute film by Mr Smith helped tell the story of one the disaster and the stories of those who responded and lost loved ones.

Mr Smith explained how the town council was concerned the disaster was being forgotten – and remembered how he saw a friend of his family being driven to hospital to identify his mother on the day of the tragedy. He said: “I’d like to think that the memorial has come out of that (film).

“Also the sign on top of Fancarl Hill which has been nearly 110 years in the making. Nothing was on the top of the hill where the bus and lots of other traffic got out of control – there is now a sign. I’d like to think it was because of the exposure from the film.”

The Northern Echo:

He praised everyone who’d come forward to help the documentary – hoping it had been cathartic for those affected. Thornaby mayor Cllr Ian Dalgarno unveiled the memorial before readings by Reverend Robert Desics.

Brian Dooks, from the Yorkshire Post, was the first reporter on the scene. The 75-year-old said: “It’s not like it is now where emergency services have all the modern cutting gear – they were using hand tools.

“It really was flat.” He also explained how the events of that day had stayed with him. “I was at Lockerbie, I was Selby train crash but this is still the one which sticks in my mind,” said Mr Dooks.

Hartburn’s Alan Brown lost his mother, Rosaline Brown, 52, in the disaster. The 76-year-old told how he first found out about the accident after turning the TV on during a trip to Scarborough.

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He didn’t believe Dibbles Bridge needed a memorial at the site – and believed the stone was fitting. Mr Brown said: “A lot of people have said the memorial isn’t in the right place, but this was the centre of Thornaby when they were alive.

“When we were kids, this was the main shopping area – and down the road was Head Wrightson. So it’s a very fitting place because this is where people lived their lives and walked past every day – so many people worked in this area.

“Those people were together as friends and have been recognised together.”

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