‘What were you doing when JFK died’ moments: the Manchester bombing

January 25, 2013

I was only one when JFK died; but the expression is meant to refer to those few moments in your life that you have to remember.If you asked me what day of the week 14 June 1962 was, I would reply Thursday, and I know this because it was the day I was born. Or if you ask me what day 15 June 1996 was, I would tell you it was a Saturday, because that was the day of the IRA Manchester bombing.My memory is poor, and if you asked me 'when was the Manchester bombing', I would have to think, and guess. But I would know it was mid to late 1990s and I would remember it was around my birthday, because I changed my plans that day.Despite it being a Saturday, I was going into work that day: I was on path for partnership, and putting in the hours. I also had to go to JJB to get some training shoes for my son, Tom, not yet 3 years old. I had originally planned to work in the morning, and go to JJB afterwards, but for some reason, I changed my plans, so that at 11.17am I was at JJB Sports in Ancoats. Despite it being a mile or two from the Royal Exchange, the building shook, and in writing this, I can still hear the boom. We did not know what it was. I don't believe that I had a mobile phone by then, and I think it was gossip round the store, maybe from the store radio, how the news filtered through. Of course, I went home straight away.My office building, Derby House, Booth Street, was damaged. My office, and the neighbouring office, had our windows blown out, with smithereens of glass scattered everywhere. Had I gone to the office first as planned, I might not have survived, or at least been badly injured.Derby House was a good half mile from the bomb: but the way the wind blew, like a wind tunnel, the explosion channeled down various roads, hitting my office full on.212 people were injured, but since the IRA gave a warning, no one fatally. The bomb was a spur for the redevelopment of Manchester and, in a perverse way, did the city some good. It is a day I shall always remember, one of my JFK moments.(Our office was not where 'A' is marked, but follow that road down until it meets the corner of Booth Street: that was exactly where my office was; up to the left, you can see the Royal Exchange, where the bomb explored)