Flight 712

Recently while cataloguing the University Warehouse records we came across the below letter which had been salvaged from a plane crash (flight 712) in London in 1968. The letter was a application from a Mr. C.E.Manning of Southampton University, United Kingdom to work in the UC classics department. The crash occured after the engine fell off the aircraft in flight. Five of the 127 on board the aircraft were killed in a major fire, although the plane made a safe emergency landing. As well as the passengers, the aircraft was carrying baggage, mail and a radioactive isotope destined for the University Hospital in Jerusalem.

Although the letter was delayed, Mr Manning still got the role as a lecturer in the Classics Department.

Charles Manning lectured at the University of Canterbury from 1968 to 2001. He was a Christchurch City councillor from 1980 to 1983 and 1986 to 2001. He was appointed as a Environment Commissioner in July 2001.