During the first week of May 1977, part of the David Livingstone Centre was badly damaged involving a freak accident with a giant tanker.
A 32t large tanker used for carrying bitumen for road repairs around the Memorial, smashed into the side of the historic building on the first Monday in May, causing considerable damage. It stuck the old part of Shuttle Row, used as a home for warden Bill Cunningham and his family. Bill is pictured with some of the damage.
It gave them a fright, as the tanker crashed into what was their living room with Mrs Cunningham in that very room at the time! Bill said at the time, “My wife got quite a shock but fortunately nobody was hurt”
He explained that the structural damage to the building was severe, with demolition of that part of the wall starting shortly after, ahead of a rebuild. The accident could hardly have happened at a worse time for the Livingstone Trust for the Queen Mother was due to arrive in 21 days time to open the new Livingstone Exhibition Centre (what became known as the Africa Pavilion). They had just 3 weeks to put the building to rights.
The Trust though didn’t let this dampen spirits, and simply added it to the multitude of tasks needed for the Royal visit, with just another problem to face up to. It was a question of finances with the Trust already hard pressed to pay for the £150,000 exhibition centre. It prompted a Gala in June with proceeds going towards the repairs and remaining debt for the new building. This all came on top of genuine worries a year earlier in 1976 that the Centre as a whole may close due to lack of funds, the exhibition centre designed as a sustainable means to boost visitor attractions with a gift shop, and let out conference space as a means of income.
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