They Fell Like Ninepins: The Morning 300 People Collapsed on an English Field

2026-10-01 · True Mysteries Editorial Desk · Strange Mass Events · 7 min read

On the morning of Sunday 13 July 1980, coaches began arriving at a showground in Nottinghamshire, in central England, about 200 kilometres north of London.

They carried about 500 children. The children were in uniform and carrying instruments, because this was a junior brass and marching band competition, and 11 bands had come to compete. Some had travelled as far as 65 kilometres and had been up since very early.

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