This week, two memorial services, held in St John’s and at the crash site, marked 60 years since the Winter Hill disaster.

The event in St John’s was introduced by David North with Douglas Town Band providing the music for the opening hymn Abide With Me.

The names of those who died were read out by David Mylchreest and David Gawne before the laying of wreaths.

Following this, Douglas Town Band played Ellan Vannin, The Manx Fisherman’s Evening Hymn and the National Anthem before Ellan Vannin Pipe Band led the retiring music.

Howard Callow of Douglas Rotary Club attended the memorial at the crash site and said: ’Despite a bitter wind a group of about 60 people gathered at the top of Winter Hill at midday on Tuesday to attend a short service in memory of those who lost their lives 60 years ago and to remember the efforts of the people of Horwich who turned out in atrocious weather to help rescue survivors.

’In the afternoon about 75 people packed in to the Horwich Heritage Centre to view the special 60th anniversary exhibition and to hear first hand from some of those who had been involved in the rescue events.’

Mr Norman Ennett who featured in this week’s Examiner as the sole living survivor of the crash attended the crash site memorial, marking the first time he had returned to the hill.

The crash killed 35 of 42 passengers and crew on board with the three crew and four passengers surviving.