Mr_W
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Post by Mr_W on May 20, 2011 0:30:25 GMT
..........I was just googling through t'interweb looking for some info on the sadly missed Marine Spa (demolished 1971) from down the Harbourside in Torquay and found these two very interesting sites....... talktorbay.com/torquay%E2%80%99s-other-history-the-marine-spa-coral-island-aqualandswib.wikidot.com/pd-2-photographs-demolition-of-marine-spa-torquay-1970s The main reason I was looking into it was that it is just coming around to the 40th anniversary of the passing of young John Moran who was the lad who very sadly died as a result of a tragic accident, involving getting stuck in one of the pipes in the swimming pool there back in the summer of 1971 (I don't recall the exact date, I remember it was very near the end of the summer term though I think, the HE certainly featured it heavily at the time). I attended the same school as John did, Abbey Road RC Assumption Primary School in Torquay. I was in the class below him, he was due to leave for Cuthbert Mayne that summer and I just wanted to mention his name so he wouldn't be forgotten. He was a St Vincents Orphanage lad, we had quite a few of the St Vincents girls and boys at our school - he was a good mate of mine, even though he was in the year above and I still miss him badly, all these years later. John was a fantakkers footy player, a great goalie, a big Chelsea fan and was also a great athlete, being in all the teams we had for the Sports Days up at Cricketfield Road, stuff like Bounce and Catch, Hoop Relay, Timeball etc - when they held his Requiem Mass in the church there in Abbey Road, it was absolutely packed, we lads at Abbey Road usually did the job of altar boys/servers at the Requiem Masses there, but on this occasion it was done I think by St Vincents lads from Priory RC School - there was not a dry eye in the church that day, I don't think I have ever seen so many little girls and boys crying. RIP John Moran, taken at a tragically young age, at rest in Hele Cemetery - "Forever Young, Forever Fair" and always remembered. ......if anybody else has any memories of the Marine Spa, possibly remembers when this happened or maybe even used to attend Abbey Road RC School and can recall John as well, I would love to hear.......... ......possibly my learned friends Barton Downs and Jon may have some reminisces etc on this?.......... Chris Donovan (Abbey Road RC Primary, Torquay from Easter 1967 - Summer 1972, teachers were Miss O'Connor, Mr Ward, Miss Reeves and Miss Vereker (Head then Mr Brophy replaced her, he was Head when all this occured) |
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Post by frankfurt gull on May 20, 2011 19:06:09 GMT
thanks for that Mr_W, I also think its important that this ´tragic event isnt forgotten. There is a memorial plaque on the wall of the Living Coasts path down to Beacon Cove. The last time I walked past some yob had spat on it so I took the trouble to fetch a bucket of water from Living Coasts to clean it off. the staff there gave me a sponge to use.
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petef
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Post by petef on May 20, 2011 22:07:07 GMT
A very moving tribute Mr W.
I remember that tragic event very well it was pretty shocking for the local community and spelt the begining of the end for the Spa.
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Post by loyalgull on May 22, 2011 19:47:44 GMT
i was a member at the marine spa then,i think i was in the leander group? i remember this tragedy very well i was about 13 then,frightening that it is now 40 years,blimey thats gone quick
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Post by sophie on Jul 16, 2011 10:34:13 GMT
Hello, I was moved to read the above tributes. I recently also saw the plaque to John for the first time. I am researching his story and if anyone feels they can help, please send me a private message. I am looking to write some sort of piece about him and what happened. Many thanks, Sophie
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Mr_W
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Post by Mr_W on Jul 16, 2011 10:58:33 GMT
Hello, I was moved to read the above tributes. I recently also saw the plaque to John for the first time. I am researching his story and if anyone feels they can help, please send me a private message. I am looking to write some sort of piece about him and what happened. Many thanks, Sophie just pm'd ya sophie!! rgds Chris |
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Post by dabish on May 18, 2015 18:11:51 GMT
I was at Abbey Rd Primary School with John Moran. I had moved to Bristol in 1971 and heard the news about his death on the radio, it really shook me, I had learnt to swim at that same pool, it was the first time that someone I knew had died.
I remember Abbey Rd fondly.
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dilly
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Post by dilly on Mar 19, 2018 5:14:20 GMT
thanks for that Mr_W, I also think its important that this ´tragic event isnt forgotten. There is a memorial plaque on the wall of the Living Coasts path down to Beacon Cove. The last time I walked past some yob had spat on it so I took the trouble to fetch a bucket of water from Living Coasts to clean it off. the staff there gave me a sponge to use. |
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dilly
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Post by dilly on Mar 19, 2018 5:34:16 GMT
Edited and closed.
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dilly
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Post by dilly on Mar 19, 2018 21:09:06 GMT
Although I moved away many years ago Torquay will always be my hometown.
If I do visit Torquay I will definitely pay a visit to Abbey Road to see the changes.
Kind regards
Dilly
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Mr_W
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Cripes, Bully gets everywhere! Neighhhhh....
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Post by Mr_W on Apr 21, 2021 4:03:13 GMT
.........Just a gentle reminder to all on here who recall this terrible event, that its coming around to the 50th anniversary of the sad loss of John Moran in the Marine Spa incident in July 1971. The plaque is still down there, so anyone who can, may like to pop down and think of John if they're in the area around this time. Thank you so much. Remembering you now as always, RIP John, our old school friend from Abbey Road RC Assumption Primary School in 1971......
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Mr_W
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Cripes, Bully gets everywhere! Neighhhhh....
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Post by Mr_W on Apr 21, 2021 4:22:05 GMT
thanks for that Mr_W, I also think its important that this ´tragic event isnt forgotten. There is a memorial plaque on the wall of the Living Coasts path down to Beacon Cove. The last time I walked past some yob had spat on it so I took the trouble to fetch a bucket of water from Living Coasts to clean it off. the staff there gave me a sponge to use. .......my learned friend frankfurt gull mentions the location of the plaque in the above quote......... |
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Post by stefano on Apr 21, 2021 9:29:57 GMT
Used to go swimming at Marine Spa for our school (Homelands up at Plainmoor) swimming lessons in the 1960's.
Yes a tragic case and indeed it comes to mind every time I drive past the site.
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chelstongull
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Post by chelstongull on Apr 21, 2021 12:50:27 GMT
.........Just a gentle reminder to all on here who recall this terrible event, that its coming around to the 50th anniversary of the sad loss of John Moran in the Marine Spa incident in July 1971. The plaque is still down there, so anyone who can, may like to pop down and think of John if they're in the area around this time. Thank you so much. Remembering you now as always, RIP John, our old school friend from Abbey Road RC Assumption Primary School in 1971......
Walked past there the other week, always makes me think.
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Post by cobracav on Aug 4, 2021 16:54:12 GMT
Today I have found the grave of John and my uncle who was interned with him in 1999 when he died. Arthur Hosegood took John under his caring wing and always talked about what a great boy he was. I knew John as I came to Torquay for holidays for about 18 years and stayed with my uncle in Horace Road. I've been looking for where my uncle Arthur was buried and must thank the staff at Torquay cemetery for their help today. I intend to maintain the grave when ever I can but I live in Marlow Buckinghamshire so visits will be when I'm driving down to Exeter with my daughter for university.
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