h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm just about to put my entry on Smokie A717013 into PR.
I saw them in concert on Thursday night at Grimsby Auditorium.
I've linked to this entry, as they hail from Bradford {the original members did anyway} and they also played the benefit gig to raise funds for the relatives of the victims of the dreadful fire at Valley Parade.


I'll never forget that day, I was watching the local news & Geoff Druitt said "Oh dear, look at that poor man with his hair on fire. This is worse than we thought. Perhaps people have been injured or even killed" as the stand went up in flames live on television.

F48874?thread=173441

The PR thread....

Glad you enjoyed the gig. Smokie certainly still have a strong bond with Bradford. Every time they tour they play the St. George's Hall, and the fans here loyally turn out. I'll go and read your Entry in a minute!

As for the fire disaster - I was there.

I possibly owe my life to the fact that I preferred to stand behind one of the goals rather than sit in the stand. I have, therefore, always felt a bit dubious about the idea of all-seater stadia being safer - although, of course, no-one would build a wooden stand now.

I clambered over a fence to get on to the pitch because I was worried that the roof over the terrace I was standing on might catch fire, and got out with nothing worse than a tear in my trousers and a scratch on my leg.

I remember listening to the radio as I left the ground, and hearing people saying that although there were obviously some people hurt, there didn't appear to have been any deaths. The full horror of the situation didn't become clear until later, because the poor souls who died were those who tried to get out of the stand the back way and found the doors locked.

You lived for a reason, I'm a great believer in fate.

what a disaster! my dad n g'dad were there!! i lost my best bud too!!!