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North Sea flood of 1953: Signs in Felixstowe remember 41 victims

G. Cordy Collection - Felixstowe Museum A man rows a boat in Felixstowe during the 1953 floodsG. Cordy Collection - Felixstowe Museum
A tidal surge broke through the flood defences at Felixstowe

Interactive signs have been installed to commemorate 41 people who died in a coastal town during one of the worst natural disasters in peacetime Britain.

The North Sea flood on the night of 31 January 1953 overwhelmed Felixstowe and killed 307 people along the east coast.

Signs containing a QR code that links smartphones to a dedicated webpage have been fitted in the Suffolk town at roads where people perished.

Memorial events marking the 70th anniversary have also been arranged.

Mark Murphy/BBC Darren Aitchison, founder of the Felixstowe Remembers groupMark Murphy/BBC
Darren Aitchison said people could find out more information about those who died through the new signs

"These signs really just bring it home to everybody that is walking past. They can read it and see how the families were affected," said Darren Aitchison, founder of the Felixstowe Remembers group.

The signs were put up last week and are due to remain in place for another fortnight.

They provide the names, ages and addresses of each of the 41 victims who died.

Meteorologist Dan Holley explains what caused the 1953 floods
The Felixstowe Times in 1953
The death toll in Felixstowe rose to 41 people
Felixstowe Town Council The memorial quilt at Felixstowe Town LibraryFelixstowe Town Council
A memorial quilt at Felixstowe Town Library includes images of some flood victims

A tidal surge, which was believed to reach 7ft 2in (2.1m), had broken through the town's sea wall, causing mass flooding.

Most of the victims lived in prefabricated homes on Orford Road and Langer Road. If they did not drown, they died after shivering with hypothermia on their rooftops.

Carol Josey, who was four years old during the floods, remembered seeing the tidal surge out of the window.

Carol Josey and her sister Ann
Carol Josey still has her teddy bear, Jennifer, which she feared was lost to the flood

"My overriding memory was fretting for my teddy bear, which I'd left downstairs the night before," she said, recalling how her father broke up wooden furniture to make a fire in the front bedroom.

"In the morning I just remember it being eerily quiet and cold."

Ms Josey salvaged her teddy bear, Jennifer, which she still has today.

The commemorative events coordinated by Felixstowe Town Council include:

Saturday, 28 January

  • The launch of the book, Felixstowe Floods of 1953 Never To Be Forgotten, by local author Jean Macpherson, at Felixstowe Town Library. A memorial quilt, made by Ms Macpherson and Jill Adam, accompanies the book launch, 11:00-14:00 GMT

Sunday, 29 January

  • A service at St John the Baptist Church on Orwell Road, including readings and memories from survivors, 18:00 GMT

Tuesday, 31 January

  • Memorial service at Langer Primary Academy, 10:00 GMT
  • Procession of light: A walk along the streets of the town's west end, where families died, finishing at the flood memorial on Langer Road. Attendees will be encouraged to wear bright clothing and bring lanterns, 18:00 GMT
  • Toll of the bells at St John's 41 times, 00:00 GMT

Jean Macpherson, 69, who interviewed more than 50 people for the book, was born in the year after the flood.

She went on to teach children about the disaster during her 37-year career at secondary schools.

Her father saw the tidal surge in his rear view mirror while driving, before rushing home to usher the family into the upstairs rooms.

Mark Murphy/BBC Jean Macpherson at the flood memorial in FelixstoweMark Murphy/BBC
The flood memorial, where Jean Macpherson is standing, indicates the 7ft 2in (2.1m) height of the tidal surge

Ms Macpherson, speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk, said she hoped the anniversary would be "commemorated in a fashion that really respects the people and really respects what has happened".

"To think of those people in their soaking wet clothes and freezing temperatures and that wind, scared out of their wits, it is just awful."

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