Remembering those who died in ferry disaster, 26 years on
by Graham Tutthill gtutthill@thekmgroup.co.uk
Survivors and relatives of those who died when the Herald of
Free Enterprise capsized off Zeebrugge have attended a service and
memorial events in Dover today, 26 years after the disaster.
It was on March 6 1987 that the ferry capsized, soon after
setting sail from the Belgian port bound for Dover. A total of 193
people died.
Each year since then, people have gathered in Dover for a
service and to throw wreaths into the sea from the Prince of Wales
Pier. Flowers are also now laid at a rose garden on the seafront
which was created and dedicated last year to mark the 25th
anniversary.
Today's service was held at St Mary's Church where there is a
memorial window (pictured above), and a list of the names of all
those who died is on display.
Crew and passengers perished in the tragedy which happened when
the bow doors of the ferry were left open, and water flooded onto
the car deck.
It led to many improvements in safety and procedures on
board the cross-Channel ferries.
Full report in next week's Dover Mercury, March
14.
06/03/13
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