Families mark Lollipop Express disaster in poignant service

The mass at St Austin's Catholic Church in Stafford was held to remember nine-year-olds Christine Heffernan and Louis Stevens who tragically died when the train they were travelling on derailed and overturned. Several others were injured.

After the crash the train became known as the Lollipop Express.

The youngsters were among 234 from the town's St Austin's Roman Catholic School, Yarnfield County Primary, Cooper Perry County Primary and Gnosall County Primary who were travelling to York on a school trip.

Pupils had been bound for a day trip to visit the Minster, castle and the railway museum.

The tragedy happened after a bridge collapsed underneath the train at Cheadle Hulme near Manchester at 9.41am on May 28, 1964. A British Rail employee also died and 11 children were injured.

Among the injured was Mary Podmore, nee Tiernan, who was at the packed service at the Wolverhampton Road church with her family.

Mrs Podmore, now aged 59, of Mosspit, Stafford, suffered injuries to her right arm and leg and spent many months recovering in hospital in Manchester. She said her mother Patty stayed with her and her father Timothy was given time off work to visit her.

"There are painful memories of what happened. It was a lovely service. The school did a great job. It was wonderful way for everybody to meet again."

She attended with her children Jenny, aged 31, and Daniel, aged 28.

Her schoolmate John Gibson, also 59, told how his left arm was amputated after the coach tipped over.

"It was the first big outing for us. I remember us walking to the station. I recall we were all excited and that it was a lovely steam train," he said.

"But not long into the journey the train started jumping up and down and the windows smashed. As the coach tipped over I managed to grab onto a table. I ended up under the train and the next thing I remember was being in hospital in Stockport. I'd been rescued when the fire brigade lifted the train."

The memorial day was organised by St Austin's and also attended by pupils from sister school Blessed Mother Teresa Catholic Primary. The service led by Father Michael Neylon featured Bible readings, songs and prayers of remembrance for those who died and the survivors of the tragedy.

Current St Austin's head Emily Keedwell read an account of the tragedy from the school's log dated May 29, 1964 written by the then headmaster Donald Treadwell.

Also in the congregation was Vincent Stevens, the brother of Louis Stevens, who travelled from Belgium for the celebration along with his wife Jackie. The family emigrated there following the disaster.

"It was 50 years since I was last in Stafford. It was a beautiful memorial," he said.

"I was six at the time of the train crash and I don't remember much, but I remember the police coming round to our house to tell us what happened to Louis. His death was something my mother Phyllis never got over until the day she died, aged 86, four years ago."

Network Rail donated two rose bushes that were planted in the grounds of the school, in Garden Street, after the service.