Reference
PO/PH1/2
Title
Photographs of the scene of the fatality of Miss Jennifer Margaret Reeves, aged 8, who, as a passenger in a Land Rover, was swept away in severe flooding at Pertenhall, Bedfordshire. Photographs taken and processed by Detective Constable Pilgrim.
Date free text
21 May 1950
Production date
From: 1950 To: 1950
Admin/biog history
Thunderstorms struck Bedfordshire on the evening of Sunday 20th May causing widespread damage to property, crops, livestock and four deaths. Torrential rain lasted hours and the River Ouse burst its banks in several places, flooding Kempston and Clapham amongst other places. At Oakley hailstones blocked the road in a solid mass to a depth of several feet. A whirlwind hit Harrowden Road, Bedford causing a path of destruction.
Jennifer Margaret Reeves, the daughter of Mr & Mrs Christopher Reeves of Manor Farm, Podington, was travelling in a Land Rover with her mother and brother. At the coroner's inquest Mr John Michael Shelton of Grange Farm Pertenhall gave evidence that he and his sister, Sheila, 'went out on Sunday evening to recover some fowls which had been washed away by the floods. Near the rapidly-rising brook at the farm entrance was a Land Rover. His sister drew attention to the fact that somebody was in the water, and he saw Mrs Reeves being washed along. Witness waded into the water almost up to his neck, and brought Mrs Reeves to dry land, while the little boy, who had also gone into the water, was rescued by his sister, Sheila, who waded in up to her waist.
Mrs Reeves told them that her little girl was still in the Land Rover. They approached the vehicle, but as they did so it was swept by the water into the brook, which was rising at about one foot per minute. The Land Rover floated for about 20 yards and then sank in 12 to 15 feet of water. Witness searched downstream for about 500 yards, but saw nothing of Jennifer. The girl's father, Mr Christopher Herbert Reeves gave evidence of recovering Jennifer's body from the rear of the Land Rover.' Coroner recorded a verict of drowning by misadventure and commended Mr and Miss Shelton for their behaviour. [Bedfordshire Times 25th May 1950 p7]
Relative of Miss Reeves.
Scope and Content
1. View of stream from Pertenhall/Swineshead Road, showing brickwork of culvert and distance travelled by vehicle indicated by Police Constable.
2. View of overturned vehicle in stream
3. Full view of vehicle in stream
4. View looking towards Pertenhall/Swineshead Road from point at which vehicle came to rest in stream.
5. View showing brickwork of culvert and tree trunk brought down by stream.
6. View upstream taken from roadway.
Level of description
file