PENZANCE - GREAT ASH WEDNESDAY STORM OF MARCH, 1962

I was a pupil at St Mary's C of E school on Reddinick Place when the storm hit. I can remember being in the classroom with the wind howling around outside, and the rain lashing against the windows. The school is pretty close to the seafront, just separated from the promenade by what is now The Grand Casino. I'm sure we called it The Pavillion in 1962. When Miss Girling noticed that the water splashing against the classroom windows was no longer just driving rain, but actually sea water being blown over the Pavillion roof, it was decided that us children needed to go home. We were sent off with strict instructions to walk in the middle of the pavements away from the dangers of falling tiles. Several of us walked to our usual bus stop in Alexandra Road, only to find that the top of the road was flooded. However, the bus came around the corner through the water, and waited for us further down the road as the bus stop was flooded.