My memories of the 1987 storm are of being awakened by noise and pressure.

I lived at that time in 1987 in a flat situated on the seventh floor of a council block, Scholey House, in Grave Street.

I had left the living room and bedroom windows open, that was what caused most of the noise, the wind screaming through the flat, and the doors slamming open and shut.

Also, we were in total darkness as the power had been cut off.

I got up, made some tea as the gas was still on, and I had by this time shut the windows.

I looked out and from my view could see trees bent to almost touch the ground. How some people struggled against that wind, and the things that were being sent flying about as well.

I left to go to my arranged spot to be picked up by van, to be met as I came outside by a sight I will never forget: trees down on top of cars, windows in my block and others smashed.

People I spoke to could not grasp what had happened.

We drove up through Clapham Common to be met with another site I will never forget - trees that had fallen through houses, crushing cars.

We had to swerve to avoid stuff on the road. I also saw the side of a house had gone due to the chimney falling down.

After work, on arriving home, everyone was outside looking at how to get their cars out from under those trees. I went and got some saws from my flat and we all set about cutting my friend's Rover from underneath.

I took some more photos before the light went. The road was blocked and they were trying to remove it or make it safe.

Ian Dyer
Tyneham Road
SW11