Great Storm of -87

[felixthelogchopper]

I was 17 and slept through the lot. I woke up for school and looked out of my window to see the big Macrocarpa in the front garden had gone over on the neighbour's BMW. Expecting the worst, we dismantled the tree to find the only damage was scratched paint work. We spent the rest of the day checking up on elderly neighbours and clearing the wreckage. It was probably the nearest I will ever see to 'the Blitz spirit' in my lifetime.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

I remember it well; a big oak by the nearby farm entrance on my way to school went over, but being a student, I slept through the whole thing! Look at the firemen in this - axes - seems unbelievble! I still wish it was 1987! the good old days

 

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Umow5DSrP6E&feature=fvwrel]BBC News at 6, Great Storm of 1987 (Part 1 of 3) - YouTube[/ame]

 

John Cooper, author of "a woodmans tale" was a sachs dolmar agent at the time and apparently shifted over 2000 saws the same week!!!

Edited October 16, 2012 by TimberCutterDartmoor

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

It was my first year of self-employment. I didn't jump on the bandwagon but was asked to do some clear up work in Croydon.

 

Went down with truck, tools, tractor loader and chipper. I just remember living in a caravan, heating water on a brazier we made for washing and what seemed like total devastation.

 

As I remember it was followed by another big blow in early '88 which managed to clear some more loosened by the first storm.

 

You had a chipper in 1987?! Wow

[Mick Stockbridge]

I slept through the whole thing then drove to work in my mk1 Escort through a scene of utter devastation. Got as near as three miles from work and had to abandon the car due to a fallen Beech and walk the rest.

 

How things have changed since then eh TCD, now everyone has chippers, full ppe and top of the range climbing gear.

Back then the only bit of ppe available was a pair of cheapo builders gloves that didn't fit properly and three strand rope n prussik with a poxy harness.....

[WorcsWuss]

How times have changed...! What a brilliant news report....

Nicholas Witchell, legend, brilliant delivery.... highlights for me of the report were the coppers driving the squashed Astra and the comment that 'the only person killed in London was a tramp sleeping rough'. Can you imagine a phrase like that being used on the news these days?!

[silky fox]

Timber cutter,that is a blast fro the past..i was 19 at the time and remember it well...i remember that News programme also...winds so strong over the Isle of wight that the needle was off the scale! Even remember Michael fish the previous night saying that there was nothing to worry about......

[silky fox]

I slept through the whole thing then drove to work in my mk1 Escort through a scene of utter devastation. Got as near as three miles from work and had to abandon the car due to a fallen Beech and walk the rest.

 

How things have changed since then eh TCD, now everyone has chippers, full ppe and top of the range climbing gear.

Back then the only bit of ppe available was a pair of cheapo builders gloves that didn't fit properly and three strand rope n prussik with a poxy harness.....

 

I,ve got this image of you Mick driving along in your mk 1 after having your cornflakes with Duran Duran playing on the radio with Beech trees strewn all over the place thinking...WTF!!!

[arbogrunt]

I was in Belize, sunbathing whilst on 'hurricane alert'.....!

[Mick Stockbridge]

I,ve got this image of you Mick driving along in your mk 1 after having your cornflakes with Duran Duran playing on the radio with Beech trees strewn all over the place thinking...WTF!!!

 

That's not far from it Paul, only difference is, it was Kajagoogoo playing on my eight track player.....

[arbogrunt]

thats a lot to own up to Mick!