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The day of Scotland's most deadly storm The day of Scotland's most deadly storm
(about 9 hours later)
On a quiet Sunday night 50 years ago, no-one in Scotland suspected that a storm blowing in from the Atlantic was about to become the most deadly in living memory.On a quiet Sunday night 50 years ago, no-one in Scotland suspected that a storm blowing in from the Atlantic was about to become the most deadly in living memory.
Forecasters had said that hurricane Low Q would pass far to the north of the country but as the depression deepened it moved south and by 18:00 on 14 January 1968 its ferocity was taking everyone by surprise.Forecasters had said that hurricane Low Q would pass far to the north of the country but as the depression deepened it moved south and by 18:00 on 14 January 1968 its ferocity was taking everyone by surprise.
In the path of the storm, which recorded gusts of 103mph at Glasgow Airport, were more than two million people in the cities and towns of Scotland's central belt.In the path of the storm, which recorded gusts of 103mph at Glasgow Airport, were more than two million people in the cities and towns of Scotland's central belt.
In total, 20 people died and 250,000 homes were damaged. More than 2,000 people were left homeless. In total, 21 people died and 250,000 homes were damaged. More than 2,000 people were left homeless.
Unlike today, where weather warnings are issued and people can track changes via their mobile phone, in January 1968 everyone was completely unaware of what was on its way.Unlike today, where weather warnings are issued and people can track changes via their mobile phone, in January 1968 everyone was completely unaware of what was on its way.
The west coast was battered first, with Greenock being badly hit.The west coast was battered first, with Greenock being badly hit.
David Bowen was one of five men who struggled to stop the winds from tearing a dredger and its barge from their mooring at Princes Pier.David Bowen was one of five men who struggled to stop the winds from tearing a dredger and its barge from their mooring at Princes Pier.
He tells the BBC Scotland documentary The Storm That Saved a City that the 4in (10cm) ropes they used to tie up the vessels "snapped like shoelaces" in the storm and the dredger was left drifting in the Firth of Clyde.He tells the BBC Scotland documentary The Storm That Saved a City that the 4in (10cm) ropes they used to tie up the vessels "snapped like shoelaces" in the storm and the dredger was left drifting in the Firth of Clyde.
The men on the vessels managed to weather the storm during the night but as dawn broke disaster struck.The men on the vessels managed to weather the storm during the night but as dawn broke disaster struck.
Mr Bowen, who was below decks on the barge, says: "We heard a horrible rumbling noise and we ran up on deck and we could not find the dredger. We suddenly realised it had turned over."Mr Bowen, who was below decks on the barge, says: "We heard a horrible rumbling noise and we ran up on deck and we could not find the dredger. We suddenly realised it had turned over."
The dredger had been holed under the water line during the storm and had been taking in water for much of the night.The dredger had been holed under the water line during the storm and had been taking in water for much of the night.
It turned over just before 08:00 and sank before anyone could escape. Three men died.It turned over just before 08:00 and sank before anyone could escape. Three men died.
Meanwhile, at Bonhill in Dunbartonshire, a man died when his car ploughed into a fallen tree as he drove his expectant wife to hospital.Meanwhile, at Bonhill in Dunbartonshire, a man died when his car ploughed into a fallen tree as he drove his expectant wife to hospital.
The pregnant woman was badly injured but two hours later she gave birth to a boy, their second child.The pregnant woman was badly injured but two hours later she gave birth to a boy, their second child.
The ferocious storm also resulted in deaths in Kirkintilloch in East Dunbartonshire, Lugton in East Ayrshire and Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire.The ferocious storm also resulted in deaths in Kirkintilloch in East Dunbartonshire, Lugton in East Ayrshire and Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire.
As it battered the east coast, two people died in Edinburgh.As it battered the east coast, two people died in Edinburgh.
But it was Glasgow that suffered the most devastation and where nine people died.But it was Glasgow that suffered the most devastation and where nine people died.
The wind tore down shipyard cranes and electricity pylons, leaving the city in darkness.The wind tore down shipyard cranes and electricity pylons, leaving the city in darkness.
Church spires and school roofs were damaged as well as the grandstands at Ibrox and Celtic Park football grounds.Church spires and school roofs were damaged as well as the grandstands at Ibrox and Celtic Park football grounds.
Jeff Jay, who was a medical student at Glasgow's Western Infirmary, tells the documentary how the wind blew in the windows of the hospital ward he was working on and nurses had to use candles because there was no power.Jeff Jay, who was a medical student at Glasgow's Western Infirmary, tells the documentary how the wind blew in the windows of the hospital ward he was working on and nurses had to use candles because there was no power.
Marion and David Donaldson, who lived in a flat in Glasgow's Hill Street, say there was debris flying past their top-floor window.Marion and David Donaldson, who lived in a flat in Glasgow's Hill Street, say there was debris flying past their top-floor window.
"I don't think we'd ever experienced anything quite like it," Marion says."I don't think we'd ever experienced anything quite like it," Marion says.
"As the storm grew in intensity, we could actually see entire areas of Glasgow going completely black as the local power stations were hit.""As the storm grew in intensity, we could actually see entire areas of Glasgow going completely black as the local power stations were hit."
Marion says: "The force was extraordinary. It was like some kind of monster."Marion says: "The force was extraordinary. It was like some kind of monster."
The poor quality of much of Glasgow's housing stock, which had been neglected for years, led to much of the devastation.The poor quality of much of Glasgow's housing stock, which had been neglected for years, led to much of the devastation.
Tens of thousands of roof tiles were ripped off and chimney heads flew loose causing extensive damage and injury to hundreds.Tens of thousands of roof tiles were ripped off and chimney heads flew loose causing extensive damage and injury to hundreds.
The chimney heads on Glasgow's tenement houses were a particular problem.The chimney heads on Glasgow's tenement houses were a particular problem.
They were large structures serving the flues from dozens of coal fires in the apartments below but, like much of the city's housing stock, their upkeep had been neglected for decades.They were large structures serving the flues from dozens of coal fires in the apartments below but, like much of the city's housing stock, their upkeep had been neglected for decades.
Dermot McQuarrie, who worked for his father's building business, says: "There was very little maintenance of these tenements and in some cases you could go up on to a roof and put your hand on to a sandstone chimney head and take a handful of it away."Dermot McQuarrie, who worked for his father's building business, says: "There was very little maintenance of these tenements and in some cases you could go up on to a roof and put your hand on to a sandstone chimney head and take a handful of it away."
At Willowbank Street in Glasgow's Charing Cross, 38-year-old Molly Wiles was killed when a chimney head crashed through the roof above the flat where she and her 12-year-old daughter slept.At Willowbank Street in Glasgow's Charing Cross, 38-year-old Molly Wiles was killed when a chimney head crashed through the roof above the flat where she and her 12-year-old daughter slept.
Further west at Dumbarton Road in Partick, four people died when the huge chimney serving an adjoining property fell on to the tenement.Further west at Dumbarton Road in Partick, four people died when the huge chimney serving an adjoining property fell on to the tenement.
It went straight down through the building's floors destroying all the rooms beneath.It went straight down through the building's floors destroying all the rooms beneath.
On the first floor, a 53-year-old woman and her family of four escaped just moments before it was completely filled with debris from the flat above.On the first floor, a 53-year-old woman and her family of four escaped just moments before it was completely filled with debris from the flat above.
Others were not so fortunate.Others were not so fortunate.
Nan Best and her three-year-old daughter Angela were only in Glasgow because they had travelled up from Swindon in Wiltshire for the funeral of Mrs Best's mother, who had died in a fire in Govan a couple of days before.Nan Best and her three-year-old daughter Angela were only in Glasgow because they had travelled up from Swindon in Wiltshire for the funeral of Mrs Best's mother, who had died in a fire in Govan a couple of days before.
They were both killed as the roof plunged down through the property at 555 Dumbarton Road.They were both killed as the roof plunged down through the property at 555 Dumbarton Road.
Jean Gowran, 41, and her 10-year-old daughter Nancy died at the same time.Jean Gowran, 41, and her 10-year-old daughter Nancy died at the same time.
Peter Gowran, who was 16 at the time, was in the tenement flat when his sister and step-mother were killed.Peter Gowran, who was 16 at the time, was in the tenement flat when his sister and step-mother were killed.
He tells the BBC documentary: "We thought it was an ordinary storm. We had no idea what was coming our way.He tells the BBC documentary: "We thought it was an ordinary storm. We had no idea what was coming our way.
"When the storm came through, my younger sister was afraid and she went into the bedroom of my dad and step-mum."When the storm came through, my younger sister was afraid and she went into the bedroom of my dad and step-mum.
"My dad came out to check on us and that's when the chimney collapsed from the other building."My dad came out to check on us and that's when the chimney collapsed from the other building.
"There was a lot of banging and a lot of noise and then there was the loudest noise I'd ever heard and then everything collapsed from the roof down through to the lower levels."There was a lot of banging and a lot of noise and then there was the loudest noise I'd ever heard and then everything collapsed from the roof down through to the lower levels.
"There was lots of dust and panic and lots of noise going on."There was lots of dust and panic and lots of noise going on.
"My father said 'get out, get out of the house'.""My father said 'get out, get out of the house'."
In the days after the storm large parts of Greenock, Glasgow and Edinburgh lay in ruins.In the days after the storm large parts of Greenock, Glasgow and Edinburgh lay in ruins.
Thousands were homeless and hundred of thousands of homes were damaged.Thousands were homeless and hundred of thousands of homes were damaged.
Journalist Ian Jack, who was a sub-editor on the Scottish Daily Express at the time, says the city was in a "semi-ruinous condition" even before the storm, a lot of the tenements were falling down.Journalist Ian Jack, who was a sub-editor on the Scottish Daily Express at the time, says the city was in a "semi-ruinous condition" even before the storm, a lot of the tenements were falling down.
He says: "I had a friend who said the great storm had been a help in waking up the city to the state of the buildings."He says: "I had a friend who said the great storm had been a help in waking up the city to the state of the buildings."
Historian Fergus Sutherland says the disaster of the storm "focused people's minds on how poor much of the housing was".Historian Fergus Sutherland says the disaster of the storm "focused people's minds on how poor much of the housing was".
Before the storm, Glasgow's policy had been to demolish its city housing and move people to tower blocks or new schemes on the outer edge of the city.Before the storm, Glasgow's policy had been to demolish its city housing and move people to tower blocks or new schemes on the outer edge of the city.
After the storm attention turned to improving the tenements, including remodelling them with internal bathrooms and concentrating on conservation, a new word in the Glaswegian vocabulary.After the storm attention turned to improving the tenements, including remodelling them with internal bathrooms and concentrating on conservation, a new word in the Glaswegian vocabulary.
Architectural historian Prof Florian Urban says: "The storm of 1968 has been deemed an ill wind that brought new insight.Architectural historian Prof Florian Urban says: "The storm of 1968 has been deemed an ill wind that brought new insight.
"In the case of the Glasgow tenements, people started considering tenements as an acceptable place of living.""In the case of the Glasgow tenements, people started considering tenements as an acceptable place of living."
Raymond Young, a young architect who pioneered an innovative approach to rehabilitating rundown tenements, says: "The great storm was a God who was fed up with a city not getting its housing right.Raymond Young, a young architect who pioneered an innovative approach to rehabilitating rundown tenements, says: "The great storm was a God who was fed up with a city not getting its housing right.
"He sent a storm to take off the roofs and make you realise the scale of the problem and get on with the job.""He sent a storm to take off the roofs and make you realise the scale of the problem and get on with the job."
The Storm That Saved a City is on BBC One Scotland on Wednesday 10 January at 21:00.The Storm That Saved a City is on BBC One Scotland on Wednesday 10 January at 21:00.