'Stairway to Heaven' - a memorial to the Bethnal Green Tube Disaster of 1943

On 3 March 1943, a crowd rushed to find refuge in the temporary air-raid shelter of Bethnal Green tube station, on hearing anti-aircraft rockets nearby in Victoria Park. As the crowd surged forward, over 300 people were crushed in the stairwell, killing 173 people and leaving over 90 injured. It was the worst civilian disaster of World War II and left a deep scar in the community.

The Stairway to Heaven Memorial Trust has been raising funds to bring a permanent memorial to the site, to honour those whose lives were devastated by the tragedy. 69 years to the day, Tower Hamlets councillors from all political parties will be uniting to take part in a sponsored 5k run in Victoria Park, hoping to raise at least £5,000 for the memorial.

Please donate all you can to support this important cause – and feel free to join in the run or come along to cheer us across the finishing line! The run will start at 2pm on Saturday 3 March 2012.

For more information contact either:

Cllr Amy Whitelock – amy.whitelock@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Cllr Carlo Gibbs – carlo.gibbs@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Cllr Lesley Pavitt – lesley.pavitt@towerhamlets.gov.uk

For more information about the Stairway to Heaven Memorial Trust visit: www.stairwaytoheavenmemorial.org