Memorial Service 2022
The Memorial Service to mark the 79th anniversary of the Bethnal Green tube disaster took place on Sunday 6th March 2022 at 2pm at St. John on Bethnal Green Church, next to Bethnal Green underground station. After the service wreaths and flowers were laid on the Memorial across the road. We asked attendees to please make sure there were no sharp or metal parts in their floral tributes as this causes rust marks and can damage the Memorial. We also asked for volunteers to provide some cakes for refreshments after the service and we were delighted with the excellent response. For full report, please see front page.
painting of the Memorial
Seacrets of the Singer girls. Kate Thompson's first published book tells the story of wartime Bethnal Green through the eyes of local girls. Including the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster. For Sale via Amazon
Margaret McKay
We are so sorry to announce the death of Margaret McKay in November 2021. Margaret was the youngest survivor and had been very brave in relating her sad story in various interviews to help bring our project to a wider audience. She was such a lovely lady and attended our Memorial Services and, of course, the official unveiling of the memorial in 2017. Margaret's mother Ellen Ridgway was holding baby Margaret in her arms when she was trapped in the crush. A policeman asked her to hand the baby to him and he passed it to another young girl who took good care of Margaret, but when the policeman returned Ellen was dead. Margaret grew up not knowing the love of a mother and did not know that the woman married to her father was not her real mother until she was in her late teens. They never got on, and Margaret has never been able to trace any relatives of her mother. It was very difficult for Margaret to live with. We will miss her dreadfully and send our deepest sympthies to her family and friends. Donations in memory of Margaret and in lieu of flowers have already reached £525. If you would like to add to this please make a donation using the orange 'donate button' on the front page.
Memorial Service Sunday 7th March 2021
The Memorial Service to mark the 78th anniversary of the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster took place online at 2pm on Sunday 7th March. It was beautifully conducted by Fr. Alan Green, Rector of St. John on Bethnal Green Church. It was very moving and uplifting and it can now be viewed using this link:
The names of the victims were read out by members of the Stairway to Heaven Memorial Trust committee, mostly being able to read their own family names. At the same time Fr. Green lit 173 candles on the altar. Photos of some of the victims were shown at the end of the Service and our committee Chair, Joyce Hampton, read out her own poem 'Looking Down on You and Me'.
We normally collect donations for the maintenance of the Memorial at the Service, if you would like to make a donation please click on the ‘donate’ button on the opening page. Thank you.
We were very sorry to announce the passing of Sid Harris, brother of victim Olive Harris. Siddy attended the Memorial Services every year with his wife Eileen (they are seen here in the congregtion in a past year) and he will be very much missed by us all. We sent our deepest sympathies to Eileen and family. Anyone wishing to make a donation in his memory please click on the ‘donate’ button on the front page.
