JANUARY 26, 1990

Hurricane-force winds ripped through the borough 25 years ago this week, leaving a trail of destruction, traffic chaos and scores of minor injuries.

Trees were uprooted, blocking major junctions, crushing cars and smashing windows.

Roof tiles showered down and chimney pots shattered on pavements.

Gusts of more than 100mph wreaked havoc throughout the day, filling streets with debris in scenes reminiscent of 1987’s great storm.

Firefighters were on red alert from the early morning, and the violent winds even forced suspended ambulance crews back to duty.

At the Shannon Corner roundabout a huge billboard fell on to a car, injuring two people.

Gusts ripped off the roof of the salt store at Kingston Council’s main depot in California Road, New Malden, while staff at Croner Publications in London Road were shut in for their own protection as parts of the roof began tumbling into the car park.

The old Barclays bank in Victoria Road, Surbiton, which had been empty for years, was another of the storm’s victims.

A witness told the Surrey Comet parts of the building collapsed into the road, smashing through a car window.

No one was hurt but the road was immediately sealed off.

Elsewhere, the roof on a hardware store in North Parade, Chessington, was ripped off in one complete 20ft section, and blown into the back garden of a neighbouring florist.

Shoppers in the Eden Walk precinct in Kingston narrowly escaped serious injury when an entire window, including its frame, was blown out from an upper floor of Marks and Spencer.

Maple Road, Surbiton, was shut at its Brighton Road junction when a chimney crashed down.

Richmond Park was closed to traffic.

A production of Grease by New Malden Green Theatre was cancelled after the leading actor, David Wheatley, 23, was knocked out by a falling tree branch. He was taken to hospital for stitches.

50 YEARS AGO: January 23, 1965
Hundreds of pounds-worth of damage was done to Kingston’s shop windows by stones thrown up by passing vehicles, a businessman said. Mr B Mayzes, of Kingston Tools in Eden Street, said in some cases windows had been broken. The debris was thought to have come from building lorries.


25 YEARS AGO: January 26, 1990
Kingston Baptist Church celebrated its 200th anniversary. The church was formed in 1790 after the expulsion of the Rev Richard Mayo from All Saints’ Church for holding non-conformist beliefs. His secret sermons were soon accepted, however, and the Union Street church was formed.


10 YEARS AGO: January 26, 2005
A Worcester Park film technician received an Oscar after a 30-year career behind the scenes of the biggest movies. Keith Edwards, 64, helped develop the Technocrane, a telescoping camera rig. Among his many credits, he could boast of being the man who made Superman fly.