On the 10th April 1973 twenty villagers set off from Bristol’s Lulsgate airport on an exciting trip to Basel in Switzerland. In heavy snow, the Vickers Vanguard aircraft, operated by Invicta International Airlines, hit the hillside 300 metres south of the Herrenmatt hamlet, Hochwald, Switzerland. Of the 145 people on board only 37 survived. All 20 passengers from Congresbury lost their lives including members of local families – Gill, Batt, Weaver, Rawlings, Price, Reakes, Roynon, Davis, Searle, Clark, Durman and Attwell. The ages of the victims ranged from the youngest, Hazel Gill aged 9 to Rose Clark aged 74. 13 of the victims were wives of local men which left many families without their mothers. It is hard to imagine the effect it had on this small village.

On the 40th anniversary, a small memorial plaque and three wooden seats were placed in the churchyard at St Andrew’s church where family and friends were laid to rest. Ten years on, only one of the benches is usable.

On the 50th anniversary of the disaster, the families set out to replace the plaque with a new larger one that included the names of their loved ones and create a rose garden as a living lasting tribute to them.

The development and planting of the garden

There was a service on the anniversary, 10th April at 11:00 am at St Andrew’s Church Congresbury.  This included the dedication of the memorial garden and a chance to meet up at the Memorial Hall.

The garden was dedicated on the 50th anniversary of the crash following a service of remembrance at St Andrew’s Church.

The service of dedication was part of the 50th Anniversary service at St Andrew’s Church. As part of the service candles were lit as the names of the victims read out. Then every person to came to the service also lit a candle.

We have been very pleased to receive a kind donation of Spring bulbs from Fentongollan Farm, Cornwall in memory of Linda Trebilcock nee Gill. Linda worked for Fentongollan for many years after she moved to Cornwall.

The disaster had a lasting impact on Linda, she travelled to Switzerland in the days after the disaster with her Uncle, Don Wood to identify her mother and sister, aunt, uncle, and cousin John.

We will post more photos when they are in flower.

The Garden April 2024

One year on and the garden has grown well thanks to the work of the local church and the families. On the 51st anniversary flowers were laid and the church was lit up in the evening of the 10th, a lovely act of remembrance.

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View the garden in 360

Location

The Congresbury Swiss Air Disaster is located in the St Andrew’s Church Yard which is located just off the A370. The access lane is just next to the old school. Parking is available at the top of the lane.

Address

St Andrew’s Church Yard, Station Rd, Congresbury BS49 5DX

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Supporters

The memorial garden has been made possible by the generous support of local people and businesses who made substantial gifts to the building of the garden as well as providing materials.

Individual Donations

Businesses that have helped and made donations