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Evening Telegraph, article by Carolyn Underwood, 14th July 1988
Treat for Old Folk ends in Terror
A group of about 150 pensioners escaped injury by feet when lightning struck a church hall chimney and sent masonry crashing into the room next door.
The group, some in their nineties, had been watching a film show in the main hall of Park Road Methodist Church, Rushden, last night. Sparks flew across the hall where the pensioners were sitting, showering like a firework skyrocket — but luckily the brickwork and debris from the ceiling fell in an adjoining empty room.
Arthur George, photographer and local historian, who was giving the show said: "We had a very lucky escape. There was only a few feet in it. The lightning had struck a chimney and the debris all came down in the next room.
The film show had been arranged as a special treat for pensioners from Age Concern's Rushden South Ward.
Bert Catlin, retired Rushden headmaster and chairman of South Ward committee, said: "The old people were absolutely marvellous; so calm. I could see the lightning whipping across the roof and sparks dropped down like a skyrocket. Everyone was stunned but there was no panic at all. It reminded me of the war days."
Doris Tompkins, 80, of Southfields, former chairman of Rushden Urban Council, was sitting on the front row at the film show — closest to the room which received the worst of the damage.
She said: "There was a terrific bang which made our ears go funny. It was very frightening indeed.
"Everyone jumped and the lights went out. It was very frightening, especially while we were in the dark. The windows had been blacked out because Mr George showing his film. I was sitting next to my neighbour and we grabbed each other.
Her neighbour, Rose Harris, 76, also of South-fields, said: "We heard the thunder but then it was just as if a bomb had gone off."
Pensioner Kitty Salter, of Mannings Street, Rushden. said: "My first thought was for my dog who was with me. It was very frightening and there was a smell of burning although there was no fire. "Only 90 minutes before the freak storm, ET chief photographer Glyn Dobbs was in the room which was showered with heavy masonry, taking photographs of youngsters from the church who had recently organised a sponsored chair cleaning session and also of pensioners who were presenting wheelchairs to the town's Serve volunteer bureau.
John Spavins, chairman of the church's property committee, was shocked at the extent of the damage.
The force of the blast threw masonry over a wide area, including the garden of dentist George Osborne, whose home is next to the church.
Mr Spavins said: "We have been very lucky that no-one was injured. Normally the room which was damaged the most — the Guild Room — is used by the Girls Brigade for their meetings at that time. They are there each Wednesday night, but the meetings stopped for the holiday last week.
"There could have been youngsters in the room and the masonry could have killed them."
Mr Spavins said the fire brigade had said no more events must be held in the hall until what remains of the chimney stack was made safe.
A builder was called in last night and he described damage to the roof as extensive. Mr Spavins said he believed it would cost several thousand pounds to repair.
A planned repeat of the film show was to be held in the church hall tonight for another 107 pensioners from South Ward, but this has had to be postponed.
The builder plans to put up scaffolding on Saturday and hopes to carry out the repairs next week.
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