On this day in 1988 three trains collided at 8.10am very close to the grounds of the school after a signalling failure. 35 people were killed with almost 500 injured in what later became known as the Clapham Rail Disaster. Today was the 35th anniversary of the tragedy and a large number of survivors, family members, train drivers, union members, as well as the police and ambulance services gathered at the memorial on Spencer Park to pay their respects and lay wreaths.
Emanuel pupils and staff were amongst the first to reach the wreckage as many were walking down the school drive at the time and clambered over the railings, pulled survivors from the trains and formed human chains to help the injured reach the safety of the school grounds. London Transport Police requested that the school be closed for the day. However, Headmaster Peter Thomson refused and the normal school day resumed with the larger spaces (the old Senior Dining Hall and Gym) being used as temporary hospitals and waiting areas for survivors trying to contact their families. This was a slow process as in the pre-mobile phone days Emanuel’s three outside telephone lines struggled to cope with demand and survivors formed long lines to use the available telephones.
The Roundhouse pub was used as a hub by the Transport Police in the recovery efforts and also as a morgue. The school was highly commended by the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, for its swift response to the disaster and several boys and staff received public service awards. Over the years the school has been involved in several documentaries about the disaster and received overwhelming praise for the help it provided.
Emanuel School’s Memorial Bridge is very close to where the disaster occurred and there is a second remembrance stone located within our grounds. We have revisited the disaster in previous anniversaries and some of the comments from alumni who were pupils at the time (and former teachers) are given here: “The vision of seeing a train carriage almost upended, followed by hundreds of walking wounded being helped down the drive will be forever seared into my mind”…… “I remember it only too well. The sheer size of the trains raised above the rail lines and buckled. The strong sense of community throughout the school extending its warmth and care to the surviving passengers and emergency crews and the carol service in the chapel that evening.” ….. “I remember this day like it was yesterday. The Chapel Choir (of which I was a member) was amazing. Prayers for families and friends of those who died and were injured.”