The Hollinwell Incident: 255 Children Mysteriously CollapseMass hysteria? Poisoned? A cover-up? 40+ years on, it still holds hot debate.The Hollinwell Incident, 255 children mysteriously collapsed at a Jazzy band gala event held at the Hollinwell Showground, Kirkby in Ashfield in July 1980. Mass hysteria? Poisoned? Was there a cover-up? Our Curious World obtains the original government report. Seeking to learn why the conclusion was so controversial? Regional MPs were not convinced and were seeking a deeper inquiry. Comments from those who claim their health was adversely affected and their continued ailments. The conversation and topic comes up every so often. This presentation seeks to keep the conversation grounded in reality.
My Research & Investigation I spoke with a number of people who gave commentary on their experiences of having been present on the day of the Hollinwell Incident in July 1980. Including Neil Lancashire, the regional media photographer whose photography of the chaos and confusion captured on the day has endured. I spoke with Neil on the 12th January 2022. Following correspondence with Ashfield District Council, I was informed their copy of the official government report of the Hollinwell Incident could be made available. A trip to Kirkby in Ashfield enabled me to collect the report. I used information found within the document along with Bob Rickard’s notes and news clips from the Fortean Times article (Sept 2010), Mass Hysteria in Schools: A Worldwide History Since 1566 by Dr Robert Bartholomew and Bob Rickard, plus further commentary from Reddit, ATS, and the BBC article from 2003.
An individual reached out to share her experiences of the day, and her continued effects that did not dissipate for a considerable length of time.
I participated in an Audio documentary by the BBC produced by Andy Whitaker for BBC Sounds, there was a lean for me to say that it was paranormal, no. Researcher and investigator first, paranormal speculation could come later, but by all accounts mass hysteria understandably fits the bill, and the combination of chemical matters. Seal the answer.
Sources & References
- The Hollinwell Incident – Official report – published by Ashfield District Council.
- New theory on ‘mass hysteria’ – Tuesday, 23 September, 2003
BBC News - Fortean Times 266, September 2010
All Fall Down - BBC Inside Out feature
- Hucknall Dispatch
- Hollinwell Incident Reddit thread
- Nottingham Post
Mass Hysteria Accounts
Tridemorph
PubChem
“Tridemorph is applied onto many crops across the world, but very little data on usage and production is in the public domain. In high doses it has been shown to have teratogenic effects. These effect are manifested in edemas, hemorrhages, hematomas, abnormal development of the brain (hydrocephalia), visceral cranium (micrognathia, cleft palate) and genitourinary system (hydronephrosis), in decreased size of pelvic bones, shoulder girdle, front and hind limbs, etc.”
Met Office Weather Report
View here
Hollinwell Incident – reddit thread https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/bg9aai/the_hollinwell_incident_is_still_one_of_the_most/
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