In the early hours of 12 October, 25 years ago, residents of Brighton and Hove were woken by the sound of an explosion. A bomb, planted by the IRA to strike at the heart of Margaret Thatcher’s government, tore a gaping hole straight through the Grand Hotel. Their primary target, Margaret Thatcher herself, escaped unscathed, but five people lost their lives in the attack.

25 years on and people again gathered in the Grand Hotel to witness the unveiling of a plaque in memory of those who lost their lives. Lord Tebbit and his wife, who was paralysed by the blast and confined to a wheelchair for the past 25 years, were in attendance to speak of the dedication and selflessness demonstrated by the emergency services that night.

Whilst the structural scars of the Grand healed quickly it was clear that was not the case for many present, who still suffered from the emotional scars of the attack. Although a sombre occasion Lord Tebbit raised the mood considerably with several quips, such as referring to when everyone present meet again “in another 25 years”. 

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