Something Has Gone Wrong: Dealing with the Brighton BombBiteback Publishing, 2018 M01 11 - 200 pages On 12 October 1984, an IRA bomb exploded inside Brighton's Grand Hotel, killing five people and injuring thirty. It was an assassination attempt on Margaret Thatcher and her cabinet, who were staying there for the Conservative party conference. While the bombing was deplorable, the story of how people reacted to it is an inspiring one. People refused to be beaten by what had happened; they got on with their jobs and their lives – a theme with, sadly, a strong resonance in present-day Britain. In Something Has Gone Wrong, Brighton journalist Steve Ramsey speaks to those who were there on the day and involved in its aftermath, many of whom have never spoken publicly about it before. His interviewees include: firemen who worked on the long rescue operation; medics from the local hospital; police officers who rushed to the scene; detectives who played key roles in the criminal investigation; and cabinet ministers and high-ranking civil servants, who describe how the conference continued and how the government pursued business as usual. Incorporating fascinating new insights and information, the author has produced a portrait of this shocking event which combines narrative clarity with the vividness of oral history, and reads like a thriller. |
Contents
Whos interfering here? | |
Working flat on your back | |
Possibly the biggest crime ever | |
This guys of extreme interest | |
People do recover dont they? | |
Acknowledgements | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
absolutely actually alright Andrew Lansley Ann Widdecombe asked Bishop says Bob Thorn Brighton bombing Brighton police station building Carlos Perez-Avila Chris Cox colleague conference course DCI Graham Hill Detective Superintendent Bernie everything explosion forensics Geoffrey Pattie going gone Graham Hill Graham Hill says Grand Hotel Hamblyn happened Harvey Thomas hospital huge injured inquiry interview investigation John Byford Jon Buss journalists knew later looking Magee Margaret Thatcher Michael Colacicco Michael Forrer morning night Norman Tebbit o’clock obviously Patrick Magee Paul Gibbon person police officers pretty Prime Minister realised registration card remember reporter Robin Butler Roy Walsh Royal Sussex rubble Ruth Thompson says Detective scene someone sort staff Stoke Mandeville story stuff sure Sussex officer Sussex Police talk Tebbit says tell terrorists there’s things thought told trying wanted wasn’t what’s who’d who’s Yeah