THE Great Storm of 1987 was a violent extratropical cyclone that occurred on the night of October 15-16, with hurricane-force winds causing casualties in England, France and the Channel Islands as a severe depression in the Bay of Biscay moved north-east.

I was a 12-year-old Cranbourne School pupil when the storm hit and I can remember going to school on the morning after, noticing the uprooted trees, damaged fencing and other debris.

Cranbourne itself lost the roof of B Block.

The Apollo Hotel in Popley Way was called the Hilton Hotel back then. They had a wine bar called Palms, and this was advertised outside will a tall fake palm tree.

I remember this being broken in half by the high winds.

Here are some pictures from that day.

With thanks to Debbie Reavell and Charles Oliver.

I'd love to hear your memories of Basingstoke. Please email basingstokememories@gmail.com.