Calling everyone who remembers, or is interested in, the St John’s, Lewisham, rail disaster during the foggy evening of Wednesday December 4 1957 – especially survivors, rescuers and their family members. Ninety people died in this catastrophe and over 200 were injured. St John’s remains the southern railway network’s worst accident.
Thousands of people were on the trains involved and, even today, the crash remains deeply rooted in South East London’s communal memory. Several events are taking place in memory of this disaster. The first, on September 19, was the unveiling of a memorial plaque at St John’s station, organised by the St John’s Society.
This post is about the second event, the launch of author and historian Dr Tony Redding’s new book: “Remembering the St John’s Rail Disaster, Lewisham: The Human Cost of Catastrophe.” Tony grew up in Lee Green. His father, Jack Redding, was a rescuer on that foggy night. He helped cut free the injured trapped in the wreckage.
This book will be launched at the The Brookmill (upstairs suite), 65 Cranbrook Road, London SE8 4EJ, on Wednesday December 2 (6.15pm for 7.00pm until 9pm). A number of survivors and rescuers (and family members) are expected to attend. This is a ticketed event, with 60 tickets available on a first come-first served basis.
Reservable tickets (£8; £5 for students, payable on the door on the night) are available from the Zeffy platform via this link. The book launch will include a presentation by the author, Dr Redding, and the screening of a trailer for a third memorial project, a TV documentary on the St John’s disaster, followed by a book signing. It is hoped that the film will be premiered on December 4 next year, the 70th anniversary of the crash. Ticket sales and donations at this December’s book launch will benefit the production of this memorial film – “Horror in the fog: the St John’s rail disaster.” The documentary will include a series of interviews with survivors and rescuers.