It was described as one of the worst disasters to hit coastal communities across East Anglia.
And special events to remember the devastating floods of 1953 are set to be held in Lowestoft.
With the devastating floods of January 31, 1953 caused by a freak combination of winds, atmospheric pressure and high tides, it led to the death of 307 people across the region.
Forever etched in the memory as the day the North Sea rose up with all its power to cause death and destruction around the east coast, the 70th anniversary will be marked at the end of this month.
The floods claimed the lives of 307 people across the region – including five people at Southwold – and while Lowestoft miraculously escaped any deaths on land, the 11-man crew of the trawler Guava was lost at sea while 40 pigs, cats and dogs were lost.
It led to the subsequent demolition of the historic Beach Village in Lowestoft - which for more than 100 years had been home to thousands of fisherman, net and sail makers and at one point 13 pubs and its own brewery - in 1955.
The Jack Rose Old Lowestoft Society has organised a free exhibition entitled 'Lowestoft Remembers the 1953 flood - a 70th anniversary commemoration' at The Grit Arts and Heritage Centre in Old Nelson Street, Lowestoft from Saturday, January 28 to Friday, February 3 (except the Sunday).
Held daily, the special week-long event will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the East Coast storm surge and flooding at Lowestoft.
The centrepiece of the exhibition will be an exhibition by Bert Collyer, of the Lowestoft Museum, showing many of Royal Flaxman’s flood photographs.
There will also be an exhibition by members of the Port of Lowestoft Research Society and Lowestoft Maritime Museum to remember the flooding but also the loss of the Lowestoft Trawler Guava, which sank in the North Sea.
A commemorative plaque - to mark the loss of Guava and her crew - is set to be unveiled at South Pier in Lowestoft at the end of the exhibition.
It will also feature slideshows as well as an hour a day roadshow that records oral history and allows for locals to share their stories.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here