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| Waiting for news from Munich | Waiting for news from Munich |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| By Bill Wilson BBC News Fifty years after the Munich air disaster, the wife of one of the Man Utd players on board the plane recalls the agonising wait for news about the crash that claimed 23 lives. | By Bill Wilson BBC News Fifty years after the Munich air disaster, the wife of one of the Man Utd players on board the plane recalls the agonising wait for news about the crash that claimed 23 lives. |
| It is the late afternoon of 6 February 1958 and housewife Elizabeth Wood is changing her daughter's nappy at their terraced home in Manchester. | It is the late afternoon of 6 February 1958 and housewife Elizabeth Wood is changing her daughter's nappy at their terraced home in Manchester. |
| As the 22-year-old ponders what food to for her husband Ray, a goalkeeper with Manchester United, to eat when he gets home, a neighbour knocks on the window. | |
| "It was a Thursday afternoon, and my daughter Denise was nearly two," recalls Elizabeth. | "It was a Thursday afternoon, and my daughter Denise was nearly two," recalls Elizabeth. |
| "I was changing her and Ray was due home at about six o'clock and I was thinking about what to cook for his tea, thinking he might like a nice piece of gammon after having been abroad." | "I was changing her and Ray was due home at about six o'clock and I was thinking about what to cook for his tea, thinking he might like a nice piece of gammon after having been abroad." |
| RAY WOOD Born Hebburn-on-Tyne, County Durham, on 11 June 1931Signed for Man Utd from Darlington for £5,000 in 1949Twice League ChampionCapped three times by EnglandAlso played for Huddersfield, Bradford, BarnsleyCoached Cyprus and Kenya national teamsManaged in the US, Ireland, Zambia, Canada, Greece, Kenya, Kuwait, UAEDied Bexhill, East Sussex, on 7 July 2002 | RAY WOOD Born Hebburn-on-Tyne, County Durham, on 11 June 1931Signed for Man Utd from Darlington for £5,000 in 1949Twice League ChampionCapped three times by EnglandAlso played for Huddersfield, Bradford, BarnsleyCoached Cyprus and Kenya national teamsManaged in the US, Ireland, Zambia, Canada, Greece, Kenya, Kuwait, UAEDied Bexhill, East Sussex, on 7 July 2002 |
| Then a neighbour beckoned to her at the window. | Then a neighbour beckoned to her at the window. |
| "She asked if I had heard the news. They had interrupted the radio programme Mrs Dale's Diary to say there had been an accident at Munich with the boys. | "She asked if I had heard the news. They had interrupted the radio programme Mrs Dale's Diary to say there had been an accident at Munich with the boys. |
| "She said 'But Ray's all right isn't he - he's at home?'. | "She said 'But Ray's all right isn't he - he's at home?'. |
| "Because Ray had not played in the game against Red Star Belgrade she thought he hadn't travelled with the team. | "Because Ray had not played in the game against Red Star Belgrade she thought he hadn't travelled with the team. |
| "That poor woman, she felt terrible when she realised what she had said, but there was no easy way about it. I had to be told what had happened." | "That poor woman, she felt terrible when she realised what she had said, but there was no easy way about it. I had to be told what had happened." |
| 'Horrific day' | 'Horrific day' |
| It was the start of what the still-lively North Easterner, now 72, describes as a nightmare. | It was the start of what the still-lively North Easterner, now 72, describes as a nightmare. |
| "I still remember the day vividly - it was horrific. | "I still remember the day vividly - it was horrific. |
| "It was torture - I could not get any news about Ray. I was just sitting in the living room staring into space like I had been anaesthetised." | "It was torture - I could not get any news about Ray. I was just sitting in the living room staring into space like I had been anaesthetised." |
| Elizabeth Wood with souvenirs of Ray's time at Manchester United | Elizabeth Wood with souvenirs of Ray's time at Manchester United |
| She says the police and a local JP called in to the house to see if there was anything they could do to help and to offer words of encouragement. | She says the police and a local JP called in to the house to see if there was anything they could do to help and to offer words of encouragement. |
| But the time dragged on without news whether Ray - who had joined United from Darlington in his native North East for £5,000 in 1949 - was dead or alive. | But the time dragged on without news whether Ray - who had joined United from Darlington in his native North East for £5,000 in 1949 - was dead or alive. |
| By 1958 Ray had won league championship medals in 1956 and 1957, and been runner-up in the 1957 FA Cup final, where he was knocked cold by a crude charge by Aston Villa's Peter McParland. | By 1958 Ray had won league championship medals in 1956 and 1957, and been runner-up in the 1957 FA Cup final, where he was knocked cold by a crude charge by Aston Villa's Peter McParland. |
| Despite losing his place to Harry Gregg late in 1957, Ray was still part of the United squad and was with them on the BEA 609 flight that crashed into a house at Munich Riem airport. | |
| "The club was going for so many trophies they almost had a 'double team' with two players for every position, which is why so many of them travelled to Belgrade," she says. | "The club was going for so many trophies they almost had a 'double team' with two players for every position, which is why so many of them travelled to Belgrade," she says. |
| 'My first flight' | 'My first flight' |
| As Elizabeth agonised at home, her neighbours walked into Manchester city centre to get the first editions of the newspapers. | As Elizabeth agonised at home, her neighbours walked into Manchester city centre to get the first editions of the newspapers. |
| "I can still hear them all coming marching back up the street and they were shouting that Ray was alive," she recalls. | "I can still hear them all coming marching back up the street and they were shouting that Ray was alive," she recalls. |
| Elizabeth and Ray Wood in Cyprus in 1972 when he was national coach | Elizabeth and Ray Wood in Cyprus in 1972 when he was national coach |
| "It was wonderful news. But then there was a new nightmare, worrying about what his injuries might be. | "It was wonderful news. But then there was a new nightmare, worrying about what his injuries might be. |
| "BEA phoned and Barbara Viollett, the wife of player Dennis Viollett, also rang me. | "BEA phoned and Barbara Viollett, the wife of player Dennis Viollett, also rang me. |
| "She was expecting her third child, but despite that we made arrangements to go to Munich together. | "She was expecting her third child, but despite that we made arrangements to go to Munich together. |
| "I had never flown before and have absolutely no memory of us getting there." | "I had never flown before and have absolutely no memory of us getting there." |
| BAE gave them money every day and put them up in a "fabulous hotel", but there was still the horror to be faced at the Rechts Der Isar Hospital in Munich. | BAE gave them money every day and put them up in a "fabulous hotel", but there was still the horror to be faced at the Rechts Der Isar Hospital in Munich. |
| Double vision | Double vision |
| "I did not know what to expect, but was just so glad that Ray was alive. His face was burnt, he had a split lip, had taken a terrible blow to his head and he had broken his leg. | "I did not know what to expect, but was just so glad that Ray was alive. His face was burnt, he had a split lip, had taken a terrible blow to his head and he had broken his leg. |
| Ray Wood in action for Manchester UnitedIn pictures | Ray Wood in action for Manchester UnitedIn pictures |
| "Professor Maurer was going to operate as Ray had double vision but fortunately he did not, and Ray's vision returned to normal after three months. | "Professor Maurer was going to operate as Ray had double vision but fortunately he did not, and Ray's vision returned to normal after three months. |
| "The professor explained that the accident was so horrific that it could affect Ray at any time, that it might not hit him for five or even 30 years afterwards. | "The professor explained that the accident was so horrific that it could affect Ray at any time, that it might not hit him for five or even 30 years afterwards. |
| "I always felt Ray was running after Munich, he was always on the move. After leaving United for Huddersfield, Bradford and Barnsley, he went abroad to so many countries. Till the day he died he kept running." | "I always felt Ray was running after Munich, he was always on the move. After leaving United for Huddersfield, Bradford and Barnsley, he went abroad to so many countries. Till the day he died he kept running." |
| That metaphorical fleeing from the disaster took Ray to coach and manage around the globe, in the US, Ireland, Zambia, Canada, Greece, Kenya, Kuwait, UAE and Cyprus. | That metaphorical fleeing from the disaster took Ray to coach and manage around the globe, in the US, Ireland, Zambia, Canada, Greece, Kenya, Kuwait, UAE and Cyprus. |
| 'Russian roulette' | 'Russian roulette' |
| Elizabeth went to the hospital every day for eight weeks and Ray - who would only play one more game for United - explained what happened on the aircraft. | Elizabeth went to the hospital every day for eight weeks and Ray - who would only play one more game for United - explained what happened on the aircraft. |
| "He said that on the third - and fatal - take-off attempt, the players all changed seats in a form of 'Russian roulette'. | "He said that on the third - and fatal - take-off attempt, the players all changed seats in a form of 'Russian roulette'. |
| MRS WOOD ON THOSE WHO DIED Eddie Colman: "lively and daring player"Tommy Taylor: "had a wicked sense of humour"David Pegg: "a very handsome guy"Mark Jones: "distinctive with cap and pipe"Billy Whelan: "a lovely boy, very pure"Roger Byrne: "serious, and a great captain"Duncan Edwards: "greatest player ever seen"Geoff Bent: "only one I did not know so well" Man Utd's day of tragedyA Busby Babe remembers | MRS WOOD ON THOSE WHO DIED Eddie Colman: "lively and daring player"Tommy Taylor: "had a wicked sense of humour"David Pegg: "a very handsome guy"Mark Jones: "distinctive with cap and pipe"Billy Whelan: "a lovely boy, very pure"Roger Byrne: "serious, and a great captain"Duncan Edwards: "greatest player ever seen"Geoff Bent: "only one I did not know so well" Man Utd's day of tragedyA Busby Babe remembers |
| "Ray never usually sat near the front, but this time he found himself there. Next to him was Billy Whelan, who was a very big Catholic. | "Ray never usually sat near the front, but this time he found himself there. Next to him was Billy Whelan, who was a very big Catholic. |
| "As they shot along the runway, Ray loosened his tie, took out his false teeth, put them in his top pocket and lent forward in an emergency position. | "As they shot along the runway, Ray loosened his tie, took out his false teeth, put them in his top pocket and lent forward in an emergency position. |
| "He said to Billy 'we are going to die' and Billy replied 'I'm ready'. Billy was one of those who died." | "He said to Billy 'we are going to die' and Billy replied 'I'm ready'. Billy was one of those who died." |
| 'Wonderful characters' | 'Wonderful characters' |
| As she visited Ray in the hospital she was able to follow the progress of the other injured players and staff, including manager Matt Busby. | As she visited Ray in the hospital she was able to follow the progress of the other injured players and staff, including manager Matt Busby. |
| "Duncan Edwards was on the ward for the seriously injured on the fourth floor - Duncan, Johnny Berry and Matt were there, Matt in a big oxygen tent. | "Duncan Edwards was on the ward for the seriously injured on the fourth floor - Duncan, Johnny Berry and Matt were there, Matt in a big oxygen tent. |
| Ray in his prime during the 1956/57 Championship-winning season | Ray in his prime during the 1956/57 Championship-winning season |
| "The people at the hospital were wonderful. Duncan was surrounded by all these nurses. He looked too big for the bed. His injuries were terrible, but he could still speak to people. | "The people at the hospital were wonderful. Duncan was surrounded by all these nurses. He looked too big for the bed. His injuries were terrible, but he could still speak to people. |
| "Duncan had such an air about him - he would puff out his chest when he ran out onto the pitch, he really loved the club." | "Duncan had such an air about him - he would puff out his chest when he ran out onto the pitch, he really loved the club." |
| Everyone was shocked, she says, when this "indestructible" man died of his injuries two weeks later. | Everyone was shocked, she says, when this "indestructible" man died of his injuries two weeks later. |
| Fifty years on, she says the Busby Babes were wonderful characters. | Fifty years on, she says the Busby Babes were wonderful characters. |
| "Sir Matt Busby groomed them so well, he was a father figure to them. | "Sir Matt Busby groomed them so well, he was a father figure to them. |
| "The boys were all such a good bunch - they were all real gentlemen and played wonderful football." | "The boys were all such a good bunch - they were all real gentlemen and played wonderful football." |
| Elizabeth will be returning to Old Trafford as a guest of the club for a memorial service on Wednesday, 6 February. | Elizabeth will be returning to Old Trafford as a guest of the club for a memorial service on Wednesday, 6 February. |
| Ray and Elizabeth divorced in the 1970s and he died of a heart attack in 2002, but she has great memories of his time at Old Trafford. | Ray and Elizabeth divorced in the 1970s and he died of a heart attack in 2002, but she has great memories of his time at Old Trafford. |
| "I would not change being married to a Busby Babe and being there at that time - it was a great honour." | "I would not change being married to a Busby Babe and being there at that time - it was a great honour." |
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