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Seashells and Bluebells
"There was
a second of hushed silence around Victoria Hall. A second
that seemed like an eternity. Then the screaming of the seagulls echoed
with
the screams of the children from inside the Hall. The waiting parents
knew
something was wrong. Seriously wrong. Then came the growing fear as
the stunned parents slowly began to realise what had happened".
Set in England's north-east during Queen Victoria's
reign, 'Seashells and Bluebells' brings the past to life. Mixing startling
images with tender moments, this novel strongly evokes the community
spirit that was the backbone of Victorian Britain.
The Victoria Hall disaster, which occured during a childrens variety show in Sunderland in 1883, resulted
in the deaths of 183 children, aged between 3 and 14. They were crushed
to death in a stampede for the stage when free toys were offered. The
disaster is the worst of its kind in British history. In the aftermath
of the tragedy, safety measures were introduced, including push-out
bars on emergency exits - these laws remain in force to this day. For
further information on the Victoria Hall disaster, contact the author,
Sandra Hamilton.
