These pictures, taken by Ron Trowell, J.S. White’s photographer, show all that was left of a mobile crane on the quayside in the shipyard at Cowes on the Isle of Wight after a blowy night in November 1965.

The crane sat on rails that ran the length of the quay, which at the end of each day was supposed to be secured. This night it wasn’t.

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A strong wind carried it along the rails where it smashed through the end stops before toppling over.

Bazz (Barry) Sowerby had first-hand experience of the crane when, as an apprentice, he was required to climb it one morning in 1964 to help with a repair.

Isle of Wight County Press: The toppled crane, seen from the top of the nearby hammerhead crane. Photo: Ron Trowell/County Press.The toppled crane, seen from the top of the nearby hammerhead crane. Photo: Ron Trowell/County Press.

Bazz had nothing to fear as staff at J.S. White’s sent him up fully equipped with two vital pieces of safety equipment. His hands.

He takes up the story: “The first part of the climb was up a ladder to a platform about 30ft up, while the crane driver above continued his work totally unaware of our presence.

"To get inside the crane’s structure needed good timing, trying to guess when the crane would stop moving long enough to step through onto a ladder.

“Then it was another 30ft climb up to the wheelhouse followed by the most scary part, climbing up to the driver’s cab, as the final ladder was outside of the main structure.

“Opening the wheelhouse door, you had to await the crane slewing around to a suitable position in order to step out onto the final ladder, which went up another 12ft.

"Once on it, there was nowt but fresh air between me and the ground below. Very scary for a 16-year-old!

"I hung on so tight my knuckles were white and my legs were shaking like a dog with a chill. Once inside the cab I didn’t want to leave because at last I felt safe. I couldn’t think about the descent.

“We had to remove a heavy cast iron wheel about two feet in diameter. Once removed, we had the problem of getting it down to the ground.

"My colleague had attached it to a rope to lower it down but we couldn’t hold it and he said we would have to let it go.

"He shouted at the top of his voice, “Below!” and we watched as it hit the quay, bouncing a few times; with workmen scattering like starlings, accompanied by a cacophony of expletives.”

WATCH: Did you work at J.S. White's?

You may know some of the people featured in this YouTube video of a reunion of former employees in 2015.

Do you like reading stories about the Isle of Wight and its characters in bygone days? Click here to visit our Looking Back section to read more interesting tales.