Lockerbie - Sky Atlantic

[witchycat2]

Is anyone watching this? Stars Colin Firth as Jim Swire.

The first episode was horrifying when they depicted the plane crashing down on Lockerbie. The bodies, the baby, the seats, the woman hanging in a tree... the little boy who went out for a bike ride and then returned to a crater where his house once was. His whole family gone.

I wasn't even born when it happened, but I've read quite a bit about the politics and events that have followed. This may be a controversial 'drama' but it does illustrate the real horrors of that night.

I've not seen it, not sure I want to as I do remember it (i was about 10 at the time) & I actually think about the boy & his bike often. No idea why I think of him but I do.

Have the Lockerbie families supported the programme? If they have, then I'll watch it, but if not, then not sure I can bring myself to watch.

I am interested to hear the views of others though.

I heard some of the US families are not happy about the programme @MrsPeterHarris

I'm about to start watching this.

I was a teenager when this happened and had half my family living in Lockerbie. We were frantic to get through to them. Actually we only just got through to them before we left to drive there. My dad, sister and me were in the car before my mum heard the phone ring in the house and she raced back inside. I remember her kicking off her Scholl sandals in the garden to get to the phone in time. When she came out she was weeping with relief, which then made my much younger sister start absolutely inconsolably howling.

This incident is so vivid in my memory that even now I don't remember (but have to say it out loud to 'remember') what country the plane was from or anything about those people on it being dead. It's a really weird effect. I've tried to remind myself about the hundreds of Americans dead and that they were hostages but all I can remember is that day.

And then us not being allowed to go the following weekend to visit family as the village was obviously still being cleared.

That day was one of the first incidences I remember of time being slowed right down and remembering every moment.

I think it's been done very well. I was 15 and remember it well

I've watched 3 so far, pleasantly surprised as I was expecting the state sanctioned version of events.

Until they remove the D-notice, we'll never know what happened- Thatcher struck again - see also Hillsborough, Orgreave etc. although this has the added interference of Reagan/Bush.

Thanks @witchycat2

What's the D-notice @Twirlypoos ?

Oh gosh I remember this so well and will add this to my watch list

I remember the poor boy mentioned above who was out on his bike and saw his house explode with family inside. I think he went on to have an extremely tragic life and died in his twenties by getting hit by a train (if I recall I think this was another unimaginable accident).

I hope they do this well and with grace

Goodness, I didn't know that @NeighbourHitMyCar - that's awful.

I remember it very clearly and the horror of it happening. Dr Swire was a GP in my home town so it was very real to us too.

Steven Flannigan was the boy, so tragic

amp.theguardian.com/uk/2000/aug/27/lockerbie.ameliahill

amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/nov/22/scottish-judges-rule-lockerbie-documents-will-remain-secret

@MrsPeterHarris

😪

God, how awful.

Absolutely awful to have pulled yourself out of two tragic events in your life only to have it end so abruptly. Poor poor family all gone too soon

It's a hard watch

Thank you @wriggleigglepiggle & @Twirlypoos - I'd no idea of either of those things. Heartbreaking.

The baby set me off. Think it will be quite a harrowing watch.

I remember it happening. We had flown over for Christmas and were staying with my Grandparents in the Highlands in Scotland.

So who was behind it ???

I lived there as well. All a bit close and personal. Do you know whereabouts Dr Swire lived in the town?
I was pregnant with my first child at the time.

@marthaisintheway I think he lived in Blackwell.

I'm literally about to watch this. I remember it vividly I was 19 years old, my best friend at the time should've been on the flight returning home to the States for Christmas but last minute changed her mind and stayed in the UK and came home with me. Haunted me for years knowing that.

It’s based on a book by Jim Swire, whose daughter was murdered in the bombing. He was also the spokesperson for the British families.

The US families seem to believe the official government line more than the British families, which is odd considering there is no disputing that the American embassy were warning their staff not to fly on Pan Am that week.

Oh wow, I didn't know that. Thanks @Worldgonecrazy

I’ve just binged it tonight. So tragic but completely gripping. I was too young to remember it so found myself desperate to find out what really happened. So sad, especially how it consumed Dr Swires life in the way that it did.

We have watched the first episode.
Harrowing. But excellent acting/television.
Seems awful in a way to watch and be so gripped. Similarly with so many recent TV dramas about subjects such as Hillsborough, Peter Sutcliffe, the post office injustice. But they have all been done so well. Are they modern tributes to the tragedies.
I was 16 and for some reason went to Scotland a few days after it - the day Thatcher visited Lockerbie - just passing on the road I saw a crater and a piece of the plane. But it's only through watching programmes about it did you learn about the people affected and the vast area where people's bodies landed.