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Remembering the centenary of a tragic accident
A new mural in one corner of a Bristol secondary school shows a colourful seaside scene.
But 100 years ago, Bantham Sand in south Devon was where the lives of four pupils and one teacher from Cotham School were lost in a tragic accident.
The mural is one way to keep the memory of the events of July 30 1924 alive.
is needed now More than ever
It now complements a plaque in Cotham’s main reception area that remembers the five people who died: chemistry teacher George Tincknell; and pupils Tom Anderson, Francis Elmes, Cyril Owen and Fred Pitt, who were all aged between 15 and 16.
A report in the Western Daily Press said that “the appalling disaster… has created profound and widespread sorrow. Yesterday it was spoken of everywhere in the city with sad concern.”
Visit South Devon describe Bantham Beach as “beautiful and safe” – photo: Visit South Devon
An assembly was recently held at Cotham School by history teacher Jamie Lloyd to remind current pupils of the centenary of the tragedy and the meaning behind the new mural.
Mr Lloyd recounted how the Devon coroner spoke about the bravery shown by the friends of those who had died and how teacher, Mr Tincknell, and pupil, Tom Anderson, had both perished trying to save others.
“Four young lives full of promise and that of a teacher were cut short that day,” Lloyd explained.
A plaque at Cotham remembers those who died in the Bantham Sand tragedy – photo: Jamie Lloyd
Two teachers had accompanied 15 boys on the camping excursion to Devon.
The tragedy happened on the first morning of the trip, with the surviving teacher, Mr Phillips, who lived on Church Road in Horfield, recounting how “we went to bathe at the lovely sandy beach”.
Within minutes, many had got into difficulty, battling against the strong currents, with boys and teachers attempting to help each other.
In an interview with the Western Morning News, Phillips paid tribute to “the heroic efforts” of Norman Saunders, of Cairns Road in Bishopston, who survived, and Tom Anderson, of Lancashire Road in Ashley Down, “who lost his life in trying to save someone else”.
“They got carried out further than they expected, and Owen with them. Apparently Owen got into difficulties and Anderson went out to him to assist him back to land, when suddenly Anderson himself disappeared.
“Then Saunders got hold of Owen and swam with him for a time, but could make no headway against the current; and eventually Saunders lost Owen and became nearly exhausted himself.
“Saunders was just able to scramble towards land. He tried to help Mr Tincknell after Woodall and myself lost him again.
“All the others managed to scramble in in a collapsing condition.”
Bantham Sands is now remembered in a new mural at Cotham School – photo: Visit South Devon
Ernest Anderson, a pupil who had not entered the water because he could not swim, was taking photographs from the shore and when he saw his friends in difficulty, he found some ropes in a hut and ran along the rocks with them frantically trying to throw the rope to help the other swimmers in trouble.
The body of Mr Tincknell was pulled from the water first a few hours later.
At 8pm in the evening, the body of Cyril Owen was discovered washed up on a different beach. The other three bodies were not found until eight days later.
In the Old Cothamian magazine of December 1986, its editor wrote of “the sadness of loss, and the unavailing bravery of those others who died and of those who lived”.
Main photo: Jamie Lloyd
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