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DAWN RAIL HORROR
TWENTY-ONE sheep lying on the railway line near Havenhouse Station were killed when a four-coach diesel train ploughed into them just before dawn on Monday.

The train, which could have been travelling at up to 50 mph on that stretch of line, was the 5.40 from Boston to Skegness. It was empty except for the driver and guard. Mr Jim Harvey and Mr Reg Longford, both of Boston, and three British Rail staff travelling to work at Skegness Station.
One, a cleaner, called it “an alarming experience.” She said the train was rocking about and they were afraid it was going to go over.
The accident happened at 6.12, and according to the signalman who reported it, all the sheep were killed outright.
A British Rail spokesman said the train was only slightly damaged and continued on schedule. It was the first train out of Skegness at 06.25. There was no blockage of the line and no danger of derailment.
“The line is well fenced,” he said. “There are other ways of getting on to the line beside through the fences. We shall have to enquire as to exactly how they got on the line so that it doesn’t happen again.”
The sheep belonged to Mr James Epton, of Northolme Hall, Wainfleet.
He said the 21 sheep were part of a unit of 40 ewes and one ram. When they had been left in a field near the railway about half-a-mile away the previous afternoon, everything had been secure,”I’m not quite certain where they got on to the line,” he said. “There’s no question of any negligence on the part of the railway. Obviously access hadn’t been gained at that point.
They must have got on to the track and huddled against the crossing gates on the Skegness side of the station.
“It took us an hour or three-quarters of an hour to clear the line. It really vas a most extraordinary sight half a ton of jointed lamb. They were literally in pieces, chopped to bits.”

Mr Epton, who has 400 sheep, said he has never had a whole flock stray before. The total value of those killed was £264.

1973 Skegness news story

Storm fury
SKEGNESS Pier Theatre was marooned when two huge sections of the walkway leading to it were swept away by the high tide and gales on a Wednesday night in January 1978.
And on Thursday morning the remaining sections faced similar weather conditions and another exceptionally high tide.
Wind peeled off sheets of glass from the pier arcade and the path underneath by the waterway was flooded.
The police said the most serious incident of damage was to the pier. The new sea defences north of the pier had been damaged but before the high tide on Thursday morning had not been breached. Two sections of the pier decking each about 50 yard long had been torn away by the sea leaving the shelters on the middle section which is still standing.
Waves soared to the top of the sea wall by the Sea View Road car park with spray being caught in the wind and blowing over the wall.
Sightseers in their hundreds turned out on foot, and in carloads all along the sea front and the police received about 50 calls from the public following the siren at 7 pm.
And there were many people on the beach early on Thursday morning looking at the damage and waiting for the high tide.

Grotesquely twisted try the savage fury of the gale-driven seas, the girders in the foreground are all that remains of the landward link with the central section of Skegness’ once-proud plot —and beyond that — nothing.
There should be several hundred yards more plot leading out to the massive 1,000-seat theatre, now marooned like a washed-up gas rig platform, but the sea took it all. The storm’s toll on the east coast included four major piers, and with many others already fallen into disuse, It could mean the sea Is achieving the and of an era for these massive monuments to Victorians. For Skegness it is a shattering blow to their entertainment facilities and some very costly decisions will have to be made very quickly If the town is to remain in the forefront of the holiday resorts.

Following the flood warning on the Wednesday night, kiosk owners on Tower Esplanade tried desperately to remove stored goods.
Some sea water reached almost as far as the Clock Tower although the adjoining putting green and gardens were unaffected.
When the tide ebbed the road was covered in sand, seaweed, mud and wooden posts.
The whole of the car park at the end of Princess, Parade was covered by the tide and the chalets were flooded but left standing. Chief Supt Edward Beverley said there had been no danger to people’s lives in Skegness.
Skegness lifeboat had to wait five hours until the tide had gone down before it could come ashore after being called out earlier in the evening.
It had answered a distress call from a 750 ton Greek cargo vessel which was drifting out of control six or seven miles from Skegness.
RECALLED
A pilot boat from King’s Lynn escorted the vessel into its harbour and the lifeboat was recalled halfway on its journey beaching at 11 am.
Sea defences at Chapel St Leonards near the boating lake were damanged but there were no. reports of them being breached. The wind smashed and overturned. a number of caravans along the coast.
The summer shows at the Pier Theatre will have to be cancelled. Mr R. G. Mitchell, managing director of the Pier Company Ltd, said on Thursday: “About half the decking has gone. There is no way it can be repaired in time for the summer.
“The whole thing has got to be looked into very carefully. We had no fears about its safety. It’s not covered by insurance for this kind of damage. The premium would be unreasonably high.
“No one was on the pier at the time. I was probably one of the first to see the damage.”
Asked if the Pier Theatre might have to be abandoned altogether, he said it was very difficult to make any statement at this time.
The first part of the decking to go was the same part which was broken in two by the Europa in 1919. It was 20 years before that was completely repaired.

SEVERE STORMS IN 1893
THE SHANNON DISASTER as reported in the Skegness Herald

The most deplorable disaster that has occurred at this or probably any other seaside resort happened at Skegness at noon on Saturday last. It was a fine morning, but the heat appeared to be somewhat oppressive.

At 10.30 a train from London brought to Skegness the employees of the North London Railway Company. They were full of glee, and as they passed along the Lumley Road on their way to the beach were singing the latest songs and playing toy instruments. They had arranged to dine at the Pavilion, Pleasure Gardens, at about one o’clock.

At 12 noon a great change came over the scene. Just prior to this time about 28 of the party had gone for a sail in the Shannon.

At midday a terrible storm of wind and rain swept over the town with great fury. The Shannon, though ably manned by two experienced boatmen, was wrecked by the storm, and 28 persons, besides the two boatmen, lost their lives.

When the news of the disaster reached the pavilion, where their comrades were dining, the feelings of grief may be better imagined than described. An elderly man, almost frantic, had lost two sons and a son-in-law that morning, and these had left 13 young children unprovided for. To add to the grief of the poor fellow, his wife died on Sunday, the day after he got home again.
The Shannon was certified to carry 6o passengers, but only 31 were aboard at this time. The boat belonged to the Grunnill family and was in charge of Edward Grunnill, 44 years of age, and Edwin Grunnill, 49. [Links lead to the men’s gravestones in St Clement’s Church Skegness]. Both men were members of the Skegness lifeboat crew, and experienced boatmen.

Help was rendered by Jabez Grunnill with his boat, the Dart. Both boatmen were drowned, in addition to 28 of the passengers.

At the inquest, Charles Henshaw, one of the three survivors, said : “I was on board at the time of the disaster, and do not consider the boat was overloaded. There was plenty of room for more passengers, and I don’t consider the boatmen were to blame in any way. They were both at their post.’ Only 20 of the bodies were recovered.”

The local Appeal Committee met the London Committee, which had been formed for the purpose of helping the survivors, about September 24th, to consider the allocation of the money subscribed for the widows and orphans of those lost. Altogether this amounted to £6201, and £600 of this was given to the families of the two boatmen.

ANOTHER SEVERE GALE.—Another severe gale took place on November 18th and 19th, 1893. It necessitated the launching of the Skegness lifeboat, which rescued the crew of the cod smack Frank, of Grimsby, who unfortunately had to abandon their vessel. The gale caused considerable damage to property in the Lumley Road. The following poetry appeared in the “Skegness Herald” of November 24th, 1893. It is by the late Miss Frances Theadora Maddison, formerly of Partney, who resided at Skegness for many years. She was a member of the well-known Lincolnshire family of that name, and was highly esteemed in the town and district. She did not claim to be a poet, but her sonnets, which appeared in the “Herald” from time to time, were highly appreciated by those who read them :—

THE GALE
0, hungry sea! lash’d by the waves to foam, Thy waves are seeking prey, and soon the cries of drowning men in agony arise!
Soon hushed, alas! and while the seamen roam, The anxious watcher’s tears and bitter sighs By strong winds are mocked ! they raging come Around the coast, around each fisher’s home, While neath the waters, dead and loved ones lie,
O the Saviour breathe the words, ‘Be still!’ I may
And on bruised hearts pour balm, with tender power,
With trembling now each contrite spirit fill,
For none but He can save in midnight hour,
When on mid-ocean tossed by storm and spray,
The helpless vessels roll, and long for day.

“F. T. M.”

(1861 census Frances Theadora Maddison)

Skegness Town Hall Gutted by Fire

An article in a local newspaper, 18th January 1928, about a blaze that totally gutted the Town Hall. There appears to be no write up on the story, merely a photo.
In 1928 the Skegness Town Hall was, from what I can gather, situated on the corner of Roman Bank and Algitha Road, where the laundrette and Bairstow Eves Estate Agents are today.

The picture below shows the Skegness Town Hall in 1909.

Tragedy struck in December 1963 when the top story of the Pier Hotel in Skegness was destroyed by fire.

TOWN FULL OF KINDNESS
Family who lost all in hotel fire have ‘main memory’.
WITH their world turned upside down by the fire that killed a new friend, one of their employees; destroyed most of the Pier Hotel, their new home, and left their future one big question-mark, and lost them their clothing along with most of their personal possessions, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lewis and their two children, still suffering from the shock of the tragedy, talked this week about the kindness of Skegness people.
Sitting in the lounge of the Crown Hotel, Drummond Road, where they have temporary quarters — like the Pier Hotel, it is owned by the Home Brewery, of Nottingham — still in the shadow of the tragedy that claimed the life of barman Walter Stevenson, they talked about it.

Mr. Lewis, his auburn-haired wife Irene daughter Michelle (15) and son Michael (12), were all wearing borrowed clothes, “We have met with kindness on all hands” said Mr. Lewis. “In spite of the fire, that will always be our main memory of Skegness”.
Then he spoke of the help with clothes and money given him by the Gardner family, who have the shop and flats on Grand Parade adjoining the Pier Hotel; the Skegness Rotary Club and Inner Wheel Club; the Skegness Licensed Trades Association and anonymous well-wishers like the woman who left a parcel at the Crown Hotel for Mrs. Lewis, containing silk stockings and make-up. “There were toys and books for the children, so these helpers even thought of our moral”, smiled Mrs. Lewis.And her husband recalled that when he was recognised on going for a haircut, the hairdresser had refused to take any money.
Liverpool-born  Mr. Lewis has been in the licensed trade for 12 years, and came to Skegness from the Norfolk Arms, Glossop, one of the largest and most important hotels in the Derbyshire town. He was a member of the Glossop Rotary Club, and both he and his wife were prominent in social life there.
Now the fire has abruptly checked his plans. “We shall be staying in Skegness until after the inquest on 19th December,” he said.  “After that—I just don’t know. “All the family’s  plans”, pointed out Mr Lewis, “have been based on the likelihood of being in Skegness for some years.”
Coughing
   
It was shortly after 3am on Thursday that Mr. Lewis woke up coughing and roused his wife when he realised their bedroom on the second floor was full of smoke. Without waiting to dress, they collected Michael from his bedroom next door. Michael’s dog, Ricky, a two-year-old Boxer, had been heard barking, but was be
nowhere to be seen.
The three of them uncoiled a fire-extinguisher hose, and Mr Lewis tried to get upstairs with it, thinking of receptionist Valerie Ford (19) and barman Walter Stevenson (52) who had bedrooms on the top floor. But the smoke was too dense, and flames were breaking through the staircase. Michael dashed outside to a
phone-box to give the alarm. It was he who told Mr. Lewis that Valerie was at a top floor window, with flames around her Mrs. Lewis heard daughter Michelle shouting from a window next to their family flat on the first floor - it was being decorated and only Michelle had been sleeping there - so she ran outside.
 While Mr. Lewis called to Valerie to stay where she was until the firemen arrived, Mrs. Lewis urged Michelle to climb out of her window and into the adjoining window in Gardner’s block of next door.
Narrow ledge
 
The alarm had also been given by Mr. Arthur Davison, night-watchman at Butlin’s amusement park opposite the hotel, who had seen the flames, and firemen were soon on the scene. (It was also Mr. Davidson who found a leather jacket for Mr. Lewis, who was still only in his underwear).
While Michelle stepped out on to a narrow ledge 20 ft. above the pavement to cross to the next window, helped by the occupant of the flat, Mr. Arthur Mills, a ladder was run up towards Valerie.
When she was brought down safely, only Mr Stevenson was not accounted for. 

But he was not seen by anyone, although Valerie had heard shouting somewhere outside her room. She had been unable to open her door because it was locked and the key was red-hot; so fortunately for her as it happened, she chose the window as an escape route.
Also rescued was Michelle’s 5-year-old Labrador, Butch. He had jibbed at following his mistress through the narrow bathroom window above the street, although she had gone back into the room for him; and Mr. Mills, her helper, had also crossed into the bathroom to try to get the dog out. He was brought out a little later, by a fireman and a helper, who lifted him bodilythrough the window.
Evacuated
With the roof of the four-storey hotel collapsing and flames shooting high into the air leaving tall chimney stacks precariously poised, buildings on both sides were evacuated by police at the suggestion of fire officers. Sparks and fragments of burning material were being blown on to them, and across Scarbrough
Avenue, on to the Imperial Cafe and Grosvenor House Hotel.
Members of the staff armed themselves with fire extinguishers to keep watch on the roof.
The foyer of the Imperial filled with “refugees” from the fire, as did Gardner’s cafe. Michelle had
Valerie sat swathed in blankets at the Imperial where tea and sandwiches were available to tired firemen and any other visitor,

The Skegness and Wainfleet firemen were joined by men from a number of surrounding stations, and by the Chief Fire Officer and Deputy Chief. Gradually they brought the blaze under control, ensuring other buildings were saved, that the part at least of the interior of the hotel. As soon as they could, firemen went in to search for Mr. Stevenson. Shortly after 9 a.m., the remains of a man were found on a pile of debris on the first floor.
Survivors
 The firemen also found a black cat, the Lewis’s pet for six years, who had survived the fire locked in the cocktail bar.
Even more remarkable was the escape of Michael Lewis’s pet hamster Diane. The hamster’s cage was found in the family’s first-floor fiat on Friday afternoon, over 36 hours after the fire broke out. In the midst of burnt, scorched, smoke-blackened and water- logged furniture and debris the cage stood unscathed—with Diane running round and round inside!
“Diane’s escape has made up a little to Michael for the loss of Ricky;’ Mr Lewis said.
But our first priority when we get some money through will be another Boxer puppy…”
 
INQUEST OPENS ON CHARRED REMAINS
Receptionist collapses after giving evidence
WHEN the inquest was opened in Skegness on Friday on the charred remains of a man’s body found in the Pier Hotel fire debris, the Coroner (Mr. J. C. Walter) said at the outset:

It must be appreciated that where a body has been burned in a fierce fire, it is more or less unidentifiable.
Tests are being carried out, say the police, to try to establish if there are any means of identification. Witnesses at the inquest, which was adjourned to 19th December, were all questioned by the Coroner about the only person not accounted for after the fire, barman Walter Stevenson, aged 52, generally known as “Steve.”
The hotel manager, Mr. Charles Anthony Lewis, said he had employed Mr Stevenson as a barman, and he lived at the hotel. His bedroom was on the top floor. On the night of 27th November, Mr. Stevenson had retired for the night at about 11.50 p.m., and witness never saw or heard him again. The fire had broken out about 3 a.m. the following morning.
Receionist Valerie Susan Ford, aged 18, said her bedroom was also on the top floor. When the fire broke out she was aroused by shouts, and recognised Mr. Stevenson’s voice.
“I couldn’t open my door because the key was too hot to touch, but Steve’s voice was quite close. It sounded as if it was just near the stairs about ten yards away,” said Miss Ford, The Coroner: You are quite sure it was Mr. Stevenson’s voice ?
Miss Ford : Quite sure.
HEAP OF DEBRIS
Miss Ford, who looked distressed, collapsed moments after giving evidence. She was attended to by Dr. A. Jamieson, present to give medical evidence, and was later driven away in a very distressed condition in a police car.
Pc. W. H. Knight said he was on duty at the Pier Hotel when firemen found a body in the debris. It was completely unrecognisable except as the body of a man, and there was nothing left on the body or attached to it that could help in identification.
The remains were lying on top of a heap of debris in the north-east corner of the first floor, and appeared to have fallen with the debris from above.
Dr. Jamieson confirmed that death was due to burning.
Mr. Stevenson worked at the Pier Hotel only since June this year. His wife Lilian now living in Bateman Street, Nottingham, worked there with him until the end of August, when she returned to Nottingham because of her mother’s illness.
 Previously they had been licensees of the Poet’s Corner public house, Kirkwhite Street, Nottingham.

Pictures: top left, top story of the Pier Hotel, Skegness destroyed by fire; top right, barman, Mr Walter Stevenson who lost his life in the fire; bottom, Michelle Lewis (left), daughter of the Pier Hotel manager and (right), receptionist, Valerie Ford recovering after their ordeal at the Imperial Hotel, Skegness.

Skegness Standard  4th December 1963
Photographs by Norman Beckett Skegness