<< Returning to Ljubljana: 50 years on.
Visit to the memorial: around 10:20 am on Thursday 22nd June 2017.
Before we left for the airport on Thursday 22nd June 2017 we went to a nearby florists shop in Ljubljana where the florist made up a beautiful bouquet.
We travelled to the Airport where we met with Brigita who drove us to the site of the memorial. This was a difficult and solemn occasion. The memorial is beautiful: simple and extremely appropriate. Brigita was very unobtrusive and allowed me all the time I needed for personal contemplation.
I laid the flowers together with the simple card that I had written.
It is no more than a few score metres from the site of the crash and, it would seem that this area of the forest has not regrown completely. It was a beautiful day and the backdrop of the Austrian Alps was stunning.
The site, although only a few kilometres from the airport, seemed quite isolated. I tried to imagine the awful scene that had unfolded.
I tried to imagine how rescue vehicles could reach and leave.
I tried to imagine how my mother had dragged me away from the immediate crash site to where we were eventually found by an ambulance that was returning to Ljubljana.
I tried to imagine the people of Brnik who came out to the site to offer help.
Hi. I was walking with my wife through Acklam cemetery and found a gravestone with the names of a family that unfortunately passed away in that air disaster. Would you like me to take a picture and send it so it can be added to your post in memory of the deceased?
Kind regards
Paul and Lynda Wilson
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Dear Paul,
I have just come across your post and don’t think that I have responded to you. This is most thoughtless of me. I would be most interested to receive a photo of the gravestone. It is very kind of you to offere.
Very best wishes,
Michael
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Hi Paul,
I believe you are referring to my brother and his wife’s grave. Geoffrey and Audrey Brown. It still hurts, not sure if I should send this. I was searching to see if there is a memorial, maybe a photo. Regards Vic Brown
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Hello Vic,
I quite understand your feelings. My cousins Bill and Teri visited the Ljubljana memorial in 2017 and found it really, really difficult.
I have been through the only list of passengers that I could find from a Daily Telegraph newspaper clipping dated 1st September 1966. There are two people named Brown listed from Middlesborough: Mr G Brown and Mrs A Brown. It shows that Mr G Brown survived but Mrs A Brown died. I’m not sure if this is an accurate record.
I hope that you find the record of the memorial to them.
Very best wishes,
Michael Gatford
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Hello Mike,
Sadly they were both killed. I don’t know remember if I mentioned that they were on their honeymoon . It was not confirmed for about three days from memory. Did you get any counselling ?
Can only write to you when the mood is right.
Kind regards Vic
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