Freedom of the skies...11 white doves mark Shoreham air victims
RELATIVES of the 11 people killed at the Shoreham Air Show gathered for a minute’s silence to mark the first anniversary of the disaster yesterday.
Eleven white doves were released – one for each of the men who died – at the memorial service at the Shoreham Tollbridge in West Sussex, opposite the crash site.
The minute’s silence was held at 1.22pm, the time the vintage Hawker Hunter jet crashed on the A27 during the event last year.
It was the worst British airshow disaster for more than 60 years.
Tributes
Tears flowed as the names of the dead were read out by Canon Ann Waizeneker.
Flowers were laid at the wooden tollbridge, which had been showered with floral tributes in the days following the tragedy.
Sussex’s Chief Constable Giles York said: “The tragedy of the Shoreham air crash still has significant impact for the families who lost loved ones, and across many communities in Sussex, not least the people of Shoreham itself.
“Our thoughts have not strayed from them during this past year and we remain committed to finding answers for them as to how and why this dreadful thing happened.”
West Sussex County Council leader Louise Goldsmith said: “Today is a time to remember those who lost their lives and their families, and to remember the courage and dedication of the emergency services and all those who helped in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“This tragedy had a big impact on our county and it is right that we take time to remember.”
It emerged last month that pilot Andrew Hill, 52, is being investigated for possible manslaughter by gross negligence.
The disaster prompted the Civil Aviation Authority to ground all Hawker Hunter aircraft and ban vintage jets from performing aerobatics over land.
A full report into the crash is expected to be released by air accident investigators later this year.
This year’s Shoreham Airshow was cancelled out of respect for victims and their families.