It was a tragedy at sea almost 70 years ago that saw the crew of the Lowestoft trawler Guava head for Kent, but never return home.

As the wooden trawler left port with 11 men aboard, she was caught up in one of the worst disasters that would hit coastal communities across East Anglia.

With January 31, 1953, forever etched in the memory as the day the North Sea rose up with all its mighty power to cause death and destruction around the east coast, the worst floods of the 20th century saw the Lowestoft trawler Guava lost at sea as the waves swallowed up the vessel in the great storm.

While Lowestoft miraculously escaped any deaths on land, the trawler Guava never returned to port.

Research has shown that the crew lost were skipper George (Tash) Fisher aged 41, Mate Roy Dann (32), Chief Engineer Henry Taylor (38), Deckhand George Turner (58), Deckhand Edward Sizer (38), Arthur (Lordy) Howe (58), Robert Girling (45) Louis George Chapman (42) and deckhand learner Anthony James Folkard (16 and on his first trip), all of Lowestoft, and G H Stone (34) of Gorleston and Cook J H Vince (40) of Great Yarmouth.

Now, almost 70 years on from that fateful day, a new memorial plaque is set to be unveiled next week as part of a special commemoration.

Commissioned by Lowestoft Town Council and commemorating the 70th anniversary of the North Sea floods, the memorial plaque will be unveiled on Lowestoft’s South Pier following a short ceremony at 10am next Tuesday, January 31.

It comes as the 70th anniversary of the devastating East Coast floods is marked with a series of special events from this weekend.

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).

The exhibitions include a 'Wall of Water' photographic exhibition presented by Lowestoft Museum showcasing images from 70 years ago by Royal Flaxman; 'memories of the loss of the Guava' presented by the Port of Lowestoft Research Society and 'A Night to Remember' presented by the Jack Rose Old Lowestoft Society.