Air crash remembered on its 30th anniversary
Paying tribute to victims at parish church
A PACKED Kegworth Parish Church of more than 300 people on Tuesday took part in a moving service to the victims of the fatal air crash on the edge of the village in January 1989.
The Rector, the Rev Lauretta Wilson, led prayers at the service which was held exactly 30 years since the British Midlands aircraft crash landed on an embankment just short of the runway at the East Midlands Airport.
She thanked family members of those who lost their lives and also survivors who had travelled from Northern Ireland and stressed the bravery of all those people who had helped at the scene.
“When the plane came down all cars on the road stopped. Their doors were flung open and everyone in the vehicles rushed to give their assistance,” she said. It stressed the willingness of people to help and do whatever they could.
The Rector added: “The village of Kegworth has never forgotten that fateful day and 30 years later the emotion is still present. The crash shocked the whole community and it is still felt today.”
She paid special tribute to all those at the rescue scene including the fire service, police, ambulance service and paramedics and those who gave their assistance in the aftermath of the accident.
Readings were given by East Midlands Airport chaplain, the Rev Roy Monks, Baptist Minister Paul Phillips, Methodist Minister, the Rev John Simms and Father Gary Doneghan.
Among those attending were the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Michael Kapur, and the Bishop of Leicester, the Rt Rev Peter Fox.
Wreaths were afterwards laid at the air crash memorial site on Whatton Road by Coun David Hignett, chairman of Kegworth Parish Council, other local council representatives, members of all the emergency services and the airport.