Lewis Coach Crash on way to Villa Park 1970

kingston

As we sit and watch this space for news of our Saviour !
I wonder if anyone was with me on a Lewis coach to the FAC cup tie at Villa Park in January 1970. It was bad weather on the way with bad snow on the M1
News of the match being postponed reached the coach on the M1. The driver went off at the next junction and went up and around onto the slip road on the other side to return back to London. As he came down the slip road we slid on the ice and I think from memory turned over !

A following Lewis coach picked up some of us and carried on back to Plumstead. I still have the coach ticket, picking up at Conway Road.

ashfordaddickted

You are quite right, the coach did overturn in snow on the M1 and I still have the newspaper cuttings to prove it. If I remember correctly, only 6 people on board were injured with the worst suffering from a broken collarbone. This was in no small part due to the actions of the Driver, Dave Ripley and the fact that at the bottom of the embankment, the coach hit a solid wooden fence prior to overturning. If the accident had happened some 100 yards further along the M1, where there was no wooden fence, the coach would have turned over many times and in all probability we would have been talking about a major catastrophe. The other Lewis Coach, driven by Alfie Revell, picked up those that did not require hospital treatment and the journey back to South London, with probably 80 people on board, was one of the most frightening that I have ever experienced. I can also, recall that later that evening many of those involved in the accident, some in bandages, gathered at the Valley Club for our normal Saturday night out.

ashfordaddickted

Have just retrieved the newspaper cuttings and whilst you are correct that Charlton were due to play Aston Villa that day, it was in fact due to be in a League match. The accident happened near Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire on Saturday 29th November, 1969 and those injured were taken to Watford Hospital.

kingston

Ahh, that makes sense because the FAC cup tie was on the 3rd Jan 1970. I thought that was too quick to re arrange a cup tie.
I will dig out my ticket but I did think that it was in 69.
I had it in my mind that Eddie Cecils dad was driving but my memory is obviously fading.
I was 13 at the time and therefore didn't join you at the Valley Club that night.
I think the newspaper you refer to was the Evening News or Standard and I think my Mum & Dad had read it before our coach got back to Plumstead.
No mobiles in those days !!

Oggy Red

As a 14 year old, I remember hearing about it happening on Sports Report on the radio.

The way it was first reported, we thought it was Charlton team coach that had crashed on the way to the match - but soon confirmed on the programme that it was one of the supporter coaches.

falconwood_1

[quote][cite]Posted By: Oggy Red[/cite]As a 14 year old, I remember hearing about it happening on Sports Report on the radio.

The way it was first reported, we thought it was Charlton team coach that had crashed on the way to the match - but soon confirmed on the programme that it was one of the supporter coaches.[/quote]

Was it on twitter??

ashfordaddickted

You are really going back to the old days now. Eddie and Jack (his Son Gary played football with me for Charlton Rangers) were the regular Charlton away coach drivers, but were replaced by Dave Ripley and Alfie Revell around 1967.
I have four different newspaper cuttings about the accident, including one from that night's Evening News which has a picture of the coach on its roof. I recently provided copies of these cuttings to Dave at Charlton Live when they were trying to establish Charlton fans worst away journey, which this most certainly was and is unlikely to be surpassed.

Oggy Red

I was a regular on the Lewis coach from 1972 with Chris Slatterry, Les Turner, Dennis, etc - and Eddie Cecil was our driver.
Perhaps we know each other from those days?

Oggy Red

[cite]Posted By: kingston[/cite]Ahh, that makes sense because the FAC cup tie was on the 3rd Jan 1970.

That's right.

Went to the Cup game at Villa Park with my Dad. Still got the programme.
Lost 1-0, if I remember (without checking).

ashfordaddickted

Les Turner and I were privileged to be the only two supporters who travelled to Rome when Charlton played Roma in the Olympic Stadium whilst Eddie Firmani was the Manager. Funny enough, I was talking to Keith Peacock about this recently as he, Charlie Wright, Les and myself all went around St. Peters and the Vatican together.

By the way, I've got a feeling that we beat Villa 1-0 in a replay at the Valley with Harry Gregory scoring the goal.

Elthamaddick

[cite]Posted By: ashfordaddick[/cite]Les Turner and I were privileged to be the only two supporters who travelled to Rome when Charlton played Roma in the Olympic Stadium whilst Eddie Firmani was the Manager. Funny enough, I was talking to Keith Peacock about this recently as he, Charlie Wright, Les and myself all went around St. Peters and the Vatican together.

By the way, I've got a feeling that we beat Villa 1-0 in a replay at the Valley with Harry Gregory scoring the goal.

Les Turner is my Dad...you might know me then ? (and I might know you !)

Chris Slattery is my godfather

Oggy Red

[cite]Posted By: ashfordaddick[/cite]Les Turner and I were privileged to be the only two supporters who travelled to Rome when Charlton played Roma in the Olympic Stadium whilst Eddie Firmani was the Manager. Funny enough, I was talking to Keith Peacock about this recently as he, Charlie Wright, Les and myself all went around St. Peters and the Vatican together.

By the way, I've got a feeling that we beat Villa 1-0 in a replay at the Valley with Harry Gregory scoring the goal.

Not sure about that, Ashford. But then it was 40-odd years ago.

Like the story of you and Les out on the lash with key players in Rome.
But not a lot to drink or many loose women in St Peters and the Vatican?

ashfordaddickted

Les, like me, was a founder member of Charlton Rangers Football Club which was formed in 1965 by a group of Charlton supporters ( many of whom were also involved in the accident) on a Lewis Coach returning from a match against Birmingham. The Club has recently celebrated its 45th Birthday and big plans are being made for its 50th in 2015. I also, remember Chris Slattery who probably would remember me by my nickname "Ali". Small world isn't, perhaps we should have areunion at the Valley sometime. Please give my regards to your Dad, who if I remember correctly used to to live in Gillingham and work in the DHSS at Blackheath and has been a true Charlton stalwart for most of his life.

Elthamaddick

I played for Charlton Rangers for a few years in the early 90's

will do and yes you are correct.

kingston

Then you must be Danny, son of Les Turner ! The man who made The Nolans !
I also know Chris Slattery and the one and only Dennis.

Do you remember Mick Batchelor ? who used to sell membership cards to Charlton fans in a pub in Luton prior to matches at Kenilworth Road when games there were Luton members only !

How about The Hopkins brothers Steve, Kevin and Tony ? Or Stan Goodrich ?

ashfordaddickted

Was it Mick Batchelor or Micky Walker?

Cardinal Sin

Kingston - a frequent mistake but Steve Hopkins isn't a brother, just a mate! I was a youth at the time but I used to travel on Oggy's coach with Dennis, Sandra, Betty, Betty's daughter, Chris Slattery, etc. Les was a regular, "Spanker," Spanker's brother Donald, Ivan and his slow brother, John Rock, Jean, "Mum and Son" and many others have I can't recall. Oggy and I have swapped notes on this before.

ashfordaddickted

We are all starting to show our age and I assume that some those that you mention include regulars such as the Chatfield family, the Clarks, the Keneallys, the Blagroves and the late Keith (Golly) Powley. We used to have a great time and used to look forward to every trip win or lose.

kingston

Kevin Hopkins moved to Epsom to run a hotel ! Always thought Steve was a brother !! Betty was Bet Hutchins I presume with daughter Theresa. Who travelled with Joyce ?

I knew John Rock and I think Jean was a school headmistress !!

Happy days on Lewis Coaches that you used to book at paper shops in the Plumstead area

kingston

Ashford
I would be interested in seeing those newspaper cuttings on the crash if there is anyway of performing that piece of technology

Many thanks

ashfordaddickted

if you send your e-mail address to ashfordandshepwayaddicks@talktalk.net I will scan and forward copies to you

Elthamaddick

[cite]Posted By: kingston[/cite]Then you must be Danny, son of Les Turner ! The man who made The Nolans !
I also know Chris Slattery and the one and only Dennis.

Do you remember Mick Batchelor ? who used to sell membership cards to Charlton fans in a pub in Luton prior to matches at Kenilworth Road when games there were Luton members only !

How about The Hopkins brothers Steve, Kevin and Tony ? Or Stan Goodrich ?

that's me....I recognise alot of the names in the above 4/5 posts

kingston

Stan Goodrich & Ray hitchcock

Hi Danny. I remember you on the front page of the Mercury after you had been unwell.

Elthamaddick

[cite]Posted By: kingston[/cite]Stan Goodrich & Ray hitchcock

Hi Danny. I remember you on the front page of the Mercury after you had been unwell.

spookily enough I found that cutting the other day whilst looking for some paperwork at home....gotta be over 25 years ago, I was taken ill on holiday and had an emergency op to remove a cyst - spent the whole 2 weeks in hospital and when I got home, Mark Aizlewood came to visit me a few weeks later and also gave me a VIP day at a home game.

Shortly after I was asked to be the mascot in the Full Members Cup final against Blackburn

kingston

Danny.

Wherever I have been to watch Charlton since 1965, on whatever day of the week, regardless of weather conditions, regardless of the current form of Charlton, Lest Turner has always turned up, And was always catching a flight somewhere after the game!
Top Man

Solidgone

[quote][cite]Posted By: Oggy Red[/cite]I was a regular on the Lewis coach from 1972 with Chris Slatterry, Les Turner, Dennis, etc - and Eddie Cecil was our driver.
Perhaps we know each other from those days?[/quote]

Oggy I was also a regular on the Lewis coach at the same time.

Elthamaddick

[cite]Posted By: kingston[/cite]Danny.

Wherever I have been to watch Charlton since 1965, on whatever day of the week, regardless of weather conditions, regardless of the current form of Charlton, Lest Turner has always turned up, And was always catching a flight somewhere after the game!
Top Man

spot on description ! (even down to the catching flights!)

Cardinal Sin

Ray Hitchcock! I saw him at a game recently and we said hello but it's been bugging me for weeks that I couldn't remember his name. I've just looked back through the subscribers to some of the early books and Stuart Morgan is there, Roy King, Billy King, Kevin Croydon, Barry Nugent, Steve Smith as well as a number of others who are still very much around and some active on Charlton Life.

kingston

Stuart Morgan used to make replica Guitars !! Roy King is in Bartrams and the North Upper most games and Barry Nugent is in the North Upper most games, Kevin Merrick is another and still works match day's at The Valley.

Essex_Al

[cite]Posted By: ashfordaddick[/cite]Les, like me, was a founder member of Charlton Rangers Football Club which was formed in 1965 by a group of Charlton supporters ( many of whom were also involved in the accident) on a Lewis Coach returning from a match against Birmingham. The Club has recently celebrated its 45th Birthday and big plans are being made for its 50th in 2015. I also, remember Chris Slattery who probably would remember me by my nickname "Ali". Small world isn't, perhaps we should have areunion at the Valley sometime. Please give my regards to your Dad, who if I remember correctly used to to live in Gillingham and work in the DHSS at Blackheath and has been a true Charlton stalwart for most of his life.

I played for CR around 73/74/75. I remember they had three teams in those days. I know the goalie for the 3rd team is the guy that ran the Essex branch of the supporters club (can't think of his name at the moment). I can recall a guy called Roger running the club, nice bloke.

Lewis Coaches

Okay you ex lewis coach travelers how about a meeting some time this season.Oggy i have met along with four other ex coach travellers at Exeter last season even had photo taken together.Like Oggy i also live now afew miles away from The Valley.Some more names for you John Taylor,keith Bratton,Don Moore,The GIRLS Suzelle Duffy .Kim Smith,Dawn,and of course myself Lewis Coach.