Opened in 1872 the Severn Railway Bridge carried many people in trains from each direction across the River Severn from both Lydney and Sharpness. School children relied on the trains to get them to school from Sharpness over the river to Lydney Grammar School.
All that was to change following the fateful night of 25th October 1960 when two tanker barges crashed into Pier 22 and two spans dropped onto the barges below. There was a violent explosion, the river became ablaze with burning oil and 5 men lost their lives.
Chris Witts was out on the river that night as a 16yr old deckhand on the WYESDALE H.
His talk is based on personal experiences he witnessed plus that of one of the survivors, Capt. George Thompson.
All talks are illustrated with the latest digital equipment, including a short film or two, and last for about 1 hour. A basic fee of £45 is charged, plus .40p per mile.
Copyright © 2020 Chris Witts. All Rights Reserved
