Families mourn 11 who died ‘on a day like no other’
MEMORIAL HELD FOR SHOREHAM VICTIMS
FAMILIES of the 11 victims of the Shoreham Air Show disaster yesterday lit candles in their memory.
The service was held two days before the first anniversary of the crash.
Tragedy struck when a vintage jet hit traffic on a busy main road after a loop-the-loop manoeuvre went wrong.
Pilot Andrew Hill survived and police have yet to decide whether he will face charges.
The names of those killed were read out during a service in front of a packed congregation at St Mary de Haura Church in Shoreham-by-Sea, led by the Rev Canon Ann Waizeneker.
Prayers were said for the victims and their families, marking a day described as one that “started like any other day, but will now always be remembered by so many as a day like no other”.
Relatives and friends of the 11 men who died were at the service.
Caroline Schilt, whose son Jacob perished, said: “It was amazing to organise something like this and to come together.
“It’s lovely for the families to share in this awful thing, in a strange sort of way.”
Earlier this week, Caroline and husband Bob said they had still not moved their son’s football boots from beside the back door.
The 23-year-old was on his way to a match on August 22 when he died, along with pal Matt Grimstone, on the A27.
Mr Schilt said: “Sometimes I can see them and have a really bad moment.”
Others included Giovanna Chirico, 32, whose fiancé Mark Trussler, 54, was killed as he went to watch the show.
Leslye Polito, whose 23-year-old son Daniele died, said: “The last year I couldn’t put into words. It’s been a roller coaster – a living nightmare. It’s all surreal.”
In an address, the Rev Terry Stratford, associate priest of St Mary de Haura, said the community shared “a sense of loss and bewilderment”.
He claimed families touched by the disaster felt continuing pain at not knowing the full story behind how their loved ones were killed. He said: “There can be no real moving on until all that can be humanly known about the air crash is revealed and resolved.” Tomorrow, one year on, flowers will be laid and a minute’s silence held on the wooden Shoreham Tollbridge. It became a focal point for the community in the crash’s aftermath. The tribute will be held at 1.22pm – the time of the disaster.
Flags will also be flown at halfmast at civic buildings across West Sussex.
Pilot Mr Hill, 52, is being investigated over possible manslaughter by gross negligence.
He has been questioned voluntarily under caution by police.
Sussex Police last month applied to the High Court to see “protected records” held by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
Two compensation claims have so far been settled with the owners of the plane, according to Stewarts Law, the firm representing some of the families.