Mill tragedy remembered
BOSLEY villagers have marked the first anniversary of the mill explosion which shook their community and claimed the lives of four workers.
The community was devastated when explosions ripped through the Wood Treatment Ltd mill shortly after 9am on Friday, July 17 last year.
The explosions and fire reduced the mill – originally built around 1760 – to rubble and killed mill workers Derek Moore, 62, Dorothy Bailey, 62, William Barks, 51, and Jason Shingler, 38. Several people were injured, 50 mill workers lost their jobs and the fire service said it was the worst incident it has dealt with.
Mr Shingler’s body has never been found.
Mrs Bailey was a wellknown member of the community and lived with one of her sons, Edward, also a mill worker, in a cottage next to the mill.
Residents held commemorations including a family fun day, flower festival and church services at the weekend to mark the first anniversary.
Rev Tony Tagg, from Bosley Methodist Church, said: “The Sunday morning service in a marquee at the school was a joyful occasion and the evening service at the Methodist Chapel was a service of reflection for people to think about where they are now and how to move forward.
“People seemed uplifted but it’s still so difficult for the families who lost loved ones and it hit me how hard it is for Jason’s family because he has never been found.”
The commemorations included a flower festival at the methodist church with displays by local groups.
Isobel Worthington, who helped organise the festival, said: “I was at home when I heard the bang, it shook the house.
“We chose the theme A Country Parish Remembers for the festival as a way for people to express their feelings a year on.”
After the explosion, parish councillor Sylvia Jenkinson, 64, set up a fund for affected families which raised £240,000.
She said: “I was outside my house when I heard the explosion, it was like a bomb. I knew Dorothy for 35 years, our children grew up together. I saw her in the pub a few days before and she seemed fine.
“I’ll never forget seeing her that day. She was a character, a bit of fun.
“It’s amazing how people came together after the explosion and now a year on to hold commemorations as a community. Dorothy would be really proud.”
‘People seemed uplifted but it’s still so difficult’