The rugby players who never came home
On March 2nd 1974 a party of players from Bury St Edmunds RFC cheered on England at the Parc des Princes in Paris.
In the Five Nations Test, England were 6-0 down at half time but thanks to a try from David Duckham and Alan Old’s conversion and a penalty, as well as a Geoff Evans drop goal, the visitors battled to a 12-12 draw.
The Bury boys were due to play a friendly with a local French team the following day but that was cancelled so 18 of the 21 strong touring party headed to Orly airport to fly home. They were met with chaos as the then BEA staff had gone on strike, leaving returning passengers to London being reseated on any available flights. The teammates were relieved to get boarded on Turkish Airlines Flight 981 among 346 passengers headed for London.
Deadliest plane crash
The plane climbed normally before, at 12,000 feet, suffering an explosion as a rear cargo door blew out and control cables were severed. As the flight crew battled hopelessly to gain control, the aircraft ploughed into the Ermenonville Forest killing everyone on board. Flight 981 was the deadliest plane crash in aviation history at that time.
3 March 1974, was a tragic day for loved ones of those on board and the 18 Bury St Edmunds rugby players’ families, friends and teammates. Eighteen members died, ten women were widowed, and 21 children lost their fathers. It could have been the end of the club but everyone in the town and the rugby community rallied around them and the club is now at the very heart of its community.
Many who were not travelling with the touring team stayed with the rugby club, united in their grief. On 20 April the RFU staged a memorial game against France at Twickenham when flags flew at half-mast and there was a real coming together of the rugby community. RFU minutes show the RFU Charitable Fund was in discussion with Bury St Edmunds regarding distribution of funds raised and that Middlesex RFU Trust had already made financial grants to crash victims’ dependants.
England team thought to possibly be on flight
England lock Roger Uttley recalls the drama unfolding and thinks the England team was not on the doomed flight because they were late leaving their hotel, having had a good night with the French opposition. His wife Christine was called by Roger’s best man who stayed with her waiting for news as it was thought the England players may have been on board. It was only when Roger phoned her three hours later from Heathrow that she knew he was safe.
“That was the situation for all the wives and families. Fifty years on it reminds us that life is so unpredictable and that we were very lucky. So many who were returning from the match sadly died. We were glad to play in the subsequent memorial match at Twickenham and I’m glad that clubs like Bury St Edmunds are paying tribute to their lost players now.”
Bury St Edmunds 50th anniversary match
The Bury St Edmunds club is to have a 50th memorial match on 9 March, their nearest First XV match to 50th anniversary of the Ermenonville air disaster. Having had previous memorial bike rides, one raising £187,000 in 2014, there will be a 50th anniversary 354-mile ride to France from September 10 – 15, funds raised being shared between the club and St Nicholas Hospice Care.
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On 9 March, they will hold their memorial fixture as they take on Dorking in National 2 East, welcoming back friends and family of those lost, as well as representatives from local clubs and the wider rugby community. Together, they will remember those who died with a traditional rugby day including a short memorial service by the club memorial stone, a pre-match lunch, a period of reflection, a performance from Bury St Edmunds Male Voice Choir, a guard of honour and a large representation from across the whole club.
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