The Douglas Rotary Club is holding an informal remembrance service to mark the 63rd anniversary of the 1958 Winter Hill plane crash, in which 35 Manx residents lost their lives.

It will take place at Cooil y Ree Park, St John’s at 11am on Saturday, February 27.

The club has extended an invitation to anyone who wishes to attend, as well as to come along for refreshments at Green’s Cafe in the village at the end of the service.

Organiser Howard Callow of Douglas Rotary Club, who was four years old when he lost his father in the crash, said that every year around 20 to 30 family members of victims of the tragedy have attended the commemorations.

The club has been holding these annually since the 50th anniversary in 2008, when they dedicated a memorial plaque in the St John’s park.

The Winter Hill tragedy remains the worst high ground aviation accident in UK history.

The flight took off from Ronaldsway bound for Manchester Airport, before navigational errors resulted in its crashing into the snowy terrain of the 465m high Winter Hill in Lancashire.

Its passengers consisted of a party of local motor traders who had been invited on a day trip to visit the Exide automotive battery factory and the Manchester car show.

Seven people survived, including the three crew - who were protected by design of the Bristol Type 170 freighter, which had a raised front section due to its original purpose as a cargo carrying aircraft.

Involved in the rescue that day were members of the Rotary Club from nearby Horwich, and before the pandemic Douglas Rotary members would travel to the crash site every year to take part in a wreath laying ceremony with them.

This year the Horwich club will still be continuing with the commemoration in a socially distanced manner, and despite being unable to travel Douglas Rotary Club will be filming the St John’s service and sending it to them so they can watch it.

The Winter Hill crash received less publicity in the UK than it would normally have, as it happened just days after the Munich air disaster which resulted in the deaths of eight Manchester United football players and the team’s manager.