THE 50th anniversary of the Winter Hill air disaster which claimed 35 lives is being marked today with a special service.

Just seven people escaped the burning wreckage of the Bristol 170 Freighter when it hit the side of the fog-shrouded Winter Hill in atrocious weather conditions, following a navigational error on the morning of February 27, 1958.

The passengers on board were motor industry traders from the Isle of Man travelling to the Exide Battery factory at Clifton Junction.

The survivors, including pilot Mike Cairnes, who died last year, and air stewardess Jennifer Curtis, now Jennifer Fleet, were helped to safety by television engineers Alan Sucksmith and John Hall, who were working in the Independent Television Authority Centre, which houses the landmark mast.

Mrs Fleet, aged 71, who now lives in Sale, vividly remembers the crash, on her second flight after qualifying as an air stewardess.

She said: "I was charting a graph of the plane's weight, which was supposed to be done in pencil so it could be corrected but I didn't have one and was doing it in pen.

"There was a large bump and my pen made an arc on the paper and I though Oh no, I'll have to do that again.' "And then I remember nothing.

"I woke up outside the plane and I remember thinking If I close my eyes and open them again, I'll be back inside the plane,' but, obviously that didn't happen."

Mrs Fleet, who was just 21 at the time of the crash, knew she needed to shelter from the freezing cold and snow. She managed to climb back into the plane, where she was joined by a passenger and the pilot, who sent his co-pilot to get help.

She said: "I could see people were dead and I was frightened while waiting for help to come. It seemed to take hours. Then two men appeared and helped us to safety.

"With every step I took I was thigh deep in snow, so it took a long time to walk to the Independent Television Authority station. It was fantastic to get into the warmth.

"I was in total shock but I did realise how lucky I was to be alive."

After spending 10 weeks in the Bolton Royal Infirmary where she was treated for a broken nose, fractured upper jaw, dislocated left hip and dislocated thumb, Mrs Fleet was flown home to the Isle of Man.

She refused to let the crash end her career as an air stewardess and continued to work for the next two years until her marriage to Doug.

Mrs Fleet said: "Every year I think about those who died in the crash. I've been back up to Winter HIll twice since it happened.

"I can't get up there this year but I will be thinking about those who lost their lives."

Another survivor, Frederick Kennish, was one of the employees on the trip.

He was thrown clear of the plane by the crash and left in the snow for six hours until he was rescued.

The 83-year-old said: "I was drifting in and out of consciousness so I don't remember what happened very clearly.

"I do remember it being bitterly cold. I know that I was left for dead."

Father-of-three Mr Kennish suffered horrific injuries, including a fractured spine, broken shoulder, collar bone and ribs. His right leg was also shattered.

He spent the next few months in hospital in Bolton and had surgery in Liverpool to remove the crushed bone from his leg.

Mr Kennish, who lives in the Isle of Man with his wife of 59 years, said: "It was a terrifying time for my wife, Connie, who just moved the family over to Bolton while I was in hospital.

"The people of Bolton were amazing, they were so nice at a terrible time for my family."

Mr Kennish was forced to return to his job as a coach builder, despite being in constant pain because of the severity of his injuries.

He said: "I think about those who lost their lives and I know I'm lucky to be here but there have been times when I wished I'd died because of the pain.

"I missed out on a lot because of my injuries, like spending quality time with my children when they were small."

A memorial service will be held for the families of those who lost loved ones and those who were involved in the crash at 11am at the Holy Trinity Church in Horwich.

The service has been organised by the Horwich Rotary Club, who have been working with Rotary in Douglas in the Isle of Man to hold a similar service at the same time.

l An inquiry into the crash found that first officer Bill Howarth, who survived the disaster, was to blame for setting the radio compass to the wrong station. Captain Carines was also found to have some responsibility for not checking the setting.