This weekend marks 65 years since Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, arrived in Manchester to a tumultuous welcome. On July 12, 1961, just three months after his historic 108-minute orbit aboard Vostok 1, the Soviet cosmonaut was mobbed by thousands of workers and residents in Trafford Park.
The Welcome That Nearly Blasted Him Back Into Orbit
The Manchester Evening News reported at the time: "Spaceman Yuri Gagarin had the most tumultuous welcome of his life in Manchester today. Thousands of workers mobbed him at A.E.I., Trafford Park, and the explosive, roaring welcome almost blasted him back into orbit!" The crowd surged so violently that Gagarin's interpreter was knocked down, and the Russian ambassador was mistakenly held back by police.
Police eventually linked arms to hold back the 5,000-strong crowd. The tour of the foundry was cut short to protect Gagarin from injury as he was pushed and slapped on the back by well-wishers.
Gagarin's Speech and the Boy Who Shook His Hand
From a platform on the back of a lorry, Gagarin addressed the crowd through an interpreter: "It happens to be exactly three months today since that memorable space flight. As you know, the object of this flight was purely scientific. It carried no weapons of any kind, no cameras." He was given honorary membership of the Amalgamated Union of Foundry Workers and a medal inscribed "Together, moulding a better future."
At Albert Square, a small boy broke through the police cordon and "stood stubbornly in front of the spaceman as he took the salute." Gagarin paused to shake his hand.
Meeting Manchester's Space Pioneer
After a four-course lunch of fruit, sole, chicken, and strawberries and cream, Gagarin met Professor Sir Bernard Lovell, director of Jodrell Bank Observatory. Gagarin praised Lovell's help in tracking satellites, calling it "a fine example of scientific cooperation in the peaceful conquest of space." He also lauded Manchester's "splendid record in promoting Britain’s industrial development."
Memories From the Crowd
On the 50th anniversary in 2011, Mancunians recalled the day. Mrs Shenton, 87, said: "He was the first man into space... It is something that you can hang on to for a lifetime." Pauline McLaughlin, then nine, lined up at Chorlton Park Primary to wave. Will Peters, 81, noted: "It was pouring down with rain, but the spirits of the crowd weren’t in any way dampened." Councillor Jim Battle, who sat on his father's shoulders, said: "It was like seeing Elvis Presley and The Beatles all rolled into one."
Gagarin's Legacy and Tragic End
Gagarin's fame was used for Soviet diplomatic tours, but he was barred from the US by President Kennedy. He returned to the space program as deputy training director and worked on reusable spacecraft designs. Barred from further space missions, he requalified as a fighter pilot. On March 27, 1968, his MiG-15UTI crashed near Kirzhach, killing him and instructor Vladimir Seryogin. He was 34.
