Survivors of the Battersea Big Dipper disaster are finally set to get a permanent memorial to commemorate the “forgotten” tragedy on its 50 year anniversary.
Five children died and 13 were injured when the rollercoaster, packed with 31 riders, derailed at a Battersea funfair on May 30, 1972.
The Big Dipper’s cars had become detached from the rope which was pulling them, causing them to roll backwards, derail and crash through a wooden barrier.
The ride was dismantled and the funfair shut two years after the disaster. No one was prosecuted at the criminal trial into the tragedy in 1973, although it emerged that there were 66 faults with the ride.
The site where the ride was based is no longer accessible to the public and, for 50 years, no memorial was installed to pay tribute to the victims.
Survivors of the tragedy have been campaigning for a memorial to be created in the park for those who died.
Hilary Wynter, 63, spent almost a month in hospital after being injured in the crash when she was 13. She previously told the PA news agency: “Everything seems to have something, some sort of memorial, and this is absolutely forgotten.”
Liz Haigh-Reeve, 64, has also been campaigning for a permanent memorial in the park after she was injured in the disaster.
She previously told the PA news agency she was shocked to find there was no memorial to mark the tragedy.
She said: “There was nothing, it was as though it had never existed. It was completely wiped out.”
The first memorial to mark the tragedy was finally unveiled on Monday.
A cherry tree was planted by Wandsworth mayor Jeremy Ambache – it is hoped to bloom in May each year to coincide with the anniversary.
Survivors, family members and friends came together for the ceremony at the park and laid flowers by the tree.
The names of the children who died are written on a plaque next to the tree.
Wandsworth Council has also confirmed a permanent memorial will be installed in the future.
Simon Hogg, council leader, said: “The tragic events of 50 years ago should not be overlooked or forgotten.
"I am pleased that plans are being drawn up to ensure it is remembered in Battersea Park, as the local MP Marsha de Cordova has been calling for, so that the families of those involved will have the memorial they have campaigned for.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has also thrown his support behind the plans. He told BBC Radio London it was “really important to keep these things in the public eye” because of “the difference it makes to those who are grieving”.
He said: “I know from other memorials I’ve been involved in, it’s a place you can go to reflect, to think, to spend time with others to commemorate this awful tragedy, but also it’s a reminder of the importance of health and safety, to make sure we get things right.”
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