CLACTON PIER HISTORY & PRESS
The Steel Stella Fire
During a show at the Ocean Theatre on 4th August 1973 at 9pm a pier worker ran onto the stage, grabbed the microphone and said "Dont panic, the pier is on fire" Pianist Len Abbott first thought it was a joke but comedian Russ Abbott soon realised it wasn't and took control and asked the audience of about 800 to leave the theatre quietly. A witness remembered seeing comedian Jim Bowen at the back of the theatre helping the usherettes show people out. There was no sign of panic and pier staff later praised the public for a swift and orderly exit. In all approximately 3000 people were evacuated from the pier before the Clacton, Frinton and Weeley fire services turned up to put the rest of the fire out.
Pier worker Neal Rowland scrambled up the 50ft rollercoaster in vain in an attempt to contain the fire (you can see him on the right in the photo below). Pier staff quickly got the people off as it was just loading up for the next ride, staff then alerted the pier manager, Jo Rose to call the fire brigade. Quick thinking staff got on to the roof of the Ocean Theatre to damp it down to prevent the fire from spreading as there was alot of sparks and hot ash blowing about.
Neal & his workmate Andrew Jardine helped run the hoses across the theatre roof as the fire engines had to stay in the car park at the front of the pier in case the weight of them went through the pier boards. Unfortunately the fire hoses couldn't reach the heart of the fire in the engine room so all they could do was dampen the ride & surrounding area down to stop it spreading to the rest of the pier.
Pier staff had formed a bucket chain from the dolphinarium to the fire, their fire fighting attempts where seen as playtime by the dolphins as they dipped the buckets in for water, Bubble & Squeak even playfully grabbed some of the buckets and swam off with them. A number of the buckets were recovered from the bottom of the pool the next morning. All the staff involved that night got a free meal in the canteen, as a thank you for saving the rest of the pier from going up in flames. Two gangs of staff where formed shortly after, armed with chainsaws & spanners to make the rollercoaster area safe.
In November 1973 workmen moved in to start the huge task of dismantling the rollercoaster, the wood from the Steel Stella was placed outside the entrance of the pier and offered as firewood for free to the public, with a winter of terrible gales and the threat of powercuts, this was very handy for some.
The fire was thought to have been caused by an electrical fault in the pull up hut that housed the electrical machinery, the Steel Stella had been a landmark since the thirties and survived the war, sadly the end of its life had come. In December the final section of the Steel Stella was pulled down and the 36 year old ride was no more.
CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A CLOSER LOOK
The fate of the Steel Stella on the night of 4th August 1973
PUBLICITY & OLD PHOTOS
 POSTCARD 1Greetings from Clacton-on-sea. |  POSTCARD 2Clacton Dolphinarium 1970s. |  POSTCARD 31973 |
|---|---|---|
 POSTCARD 4Greetings from Clacton-on-sea. |  POSTCARD 51974 |  PIER BROCHUREAn advert for the pier (1973) courtesy of Peter Watts |
 PIER ADVERTEast Essex Gazette Advert (24th November 1972) courtesy of Martin Allen |  DOLPHIN COVERFront cover of a tourist guide to Clacton & Harwich in the early 70's |  PIER POSTERPoster courtesy of Michael Goss |
 PIER PROGRAMMEFlyer courtesy of Michael Goss |  PIER FLYERFlyer courtesy of Michael Goss |  PIER POSTER 2Poster courtesy of Michael Goss. |
 DOLPHIN ADVERTEast Essex Gazette Advert (7th April 1972) courtesy of Martin Allen |  BIMBO ADVERTNewspaper advert (July 1986) courtesy of Peter Watts |  STEEL STELLA 1954 |
 STELLABig queues for the Steel Stella main attraction |  WHIRLWIND 1983The Whirlwind Rollercoaster - Easter weekend 1983 |  STELLA 50sA view from the top of the Steel Stella with a car on its way up (1950's). |
 SEA VIEWThe Steel Stella from the sea. |  SKYLINER RIDE |  GALLOPERS |
 HIGH WIRE ACTThe high wire act was performed by german acrobat Johann Traber, the 21 year old did stunts including hanging by his feet and standing on his hands while swaying side by side 135ft in the air on the thin pole. The act which had been in the Traber family for more than 300 years was staged twice a day on Clacton Pier and was the first time seen in the UK. |  PIER GAP 1985Clacton Pier in August 1985 with the two main attractions, the Lido Water Slide & the Whirlwind Rollercoaster |  PIER FRONT 50sSteel Stella seen from the front of Clacton Pier. |
 ARIEL SHOT 1973Ariel photo of Clacton Pier before the Steel Stella fire (1973) |  PLEASURE BOAT |  DICK EMERYOne of many stars who put on summer shows at the Ocean Theatre on Clacton Pier. |
 JOLLY ROGEROn the balcony of the Jolly Roger (year unknown). |  1979 STORMA view of the damaged area from inside the dolphinarium. |  STORM DAMAGEThe main pool and holding area after the storm. |
In January 1979 severe gales hit Clacton Pier and caused an estimated £150,000 worth of damage, mainly to the dolphinarium and holding pools. There was a quick rescue operation to save Susie Wong the killer whale who was stranded in the pool, she was moved to Windsor Safari Park. Squeak the dolphin was moved to Brighton with 5 other dolphins to keep her company while repairs to Clacton Pier were underway. The sea lions and penguins were also moved to various locations around the country. The viewing windows around the pool were broken by the storm causing the pool to empty.
