Herald of Free Enterprise memorial service
A service to remember those who died in the Herald of Free
Enterprise ferry disaster will be held next week.
The annual service to mark the 26th anniversary of the tragedy,
which claimed the lives of 193 people in 1987, will take place at
St Mary’s Church in Dover on Wednesday, March 6.
Last year’s service marked a quarter of a century since the
disaster involving the ship sailing to Dover from Zeebrugge, and
saw a congregation of more than 250 people.
The service, which starts at 11am, will be led by the Rev David
Ridley, vicar of St Mary’s, with principal chaplain of the Sailors’
Society the Rev David Potterton also invited to preach.
The church service will be followed by a short service at the end
of the Prince of Wales pier, during which people will be able to
cast flowers on the water to remember loved ones.
Mr Potterton said: “Although a solemn occasion, it is encouraging
to see how many attend.”
Terry Sutton, media officer at St Mary’s Church, said: “Survivors
from the capsize and the loved ones of those who died will be at
the service.
“At the end of the service many of those attending will visit the
memorial rose garden on Dover seafront while others will throw
flowers into the sea from the Prince of Wales Pier in memory of
those who died.
“There will also be a reception at St Mary’s parish centre where
former Dover ferrymen will talk about the night the Herald sailed
with 460 passengers without the realisation that the bow doors were
not firmly closed.”
26/02/13
- Click here for more Deal, Dover and Sandwich news...
- Click here for more news from across the county...