Mystery Virus sweeps St Hilda's school

From: Articles

It was front page news yet in the Stations hand written log two lines. Sub O Crane, FM 28 Tudor FM 57 France and FM Lawrence left station in Bedford Van for St Hildas School, line two Bedford Van returned to station.

Here are two articles telling about a mystery virus that swept through local school St Hildas, one of the firemen shown was Bob France. But were you there or do you know anybody that was please let us know, Jim Lawrence was the other Fireman. We were attempting to stir up dust particles so that the Local Heath Authority could analysis the samples.

Date of creation

Oct 1965

Date of coverage

1960s

Place

Blackburn

Contributor

Evening Telegraph

Reference number

BP/BP5/2/0003/0001/0008

Comments about this page

Reply
I was one of the girls taken ill, it was a painful and frightening experience. I spent several days in Park Lee and a few days after being discharged the symptoms recurred. I would love to know what the current view is I have always thought mass hysteria was a cover up. Did an adjacent factory have a \’plume fall\’ that was particularly toxic? The school yard often had strange odours and sometimes misty smoke.
By Nancy Thompson (07/01/2020)
Reply
Hello Bob,
Many thanks for this fascinating piece. My sister is the dark-haired girl looking askance in the middle of the front row. She remembers the day clearly, although was spared fainting herself. We wonder where this photo of the girls came from. Was it from the then ‘Blackburn Evening Telegraph’? We’d be delighted if you could help us trace the origin of this photo as we would like to get a clearer version of it. Thank you for any help..
Best wishes,
Madeleine Cary
By Madeleine Cary (15/11/2015)
Reply
Hi Madeleine,
Thanks for your comment much appreciated, unfortunately the clipping come from many sources mostly from retired firefighters. it is very likely that they have originated from the Lancashire Evening Telegraph mine did.
I noticed at the bottom of the article with your sister is a contact name of Gill Johnson and a E-mail address gjohnson@lancashire.newsquest.co.uk perhaps this might be a avenue you could explore. I recall back in the day the Telegraph Photographer was a chap I think was called Wally Talbert whether he is still around I do not no.
Hope this is of some help
Regards Bob F
By Bob France (17/11/2015)
Reply
I was there and remember it well! I was about 12 years old. children were just passing out in the playground all around, I was okay and I know one or two “faked it” just to get sent home which we were!
By Patricia Edwards (10/06/2015)
Reply
Hi Patricia.
Thanks for your comments on St Hilda’s Scool, I was one of the Firefighters that went in the school in Beathing Apparatus to take dust and air samples.
We have just been in touch with a reporter from the BBC who wanted information on the incident because the have made a film called The Fallen or Falling I am not sure which, it is loosely themed on the School.
Regards Bob France (Retired Firefighter)
By Bob France (10/06/2015)