Survivors & victims’ families gather in Glasgow to mark decade since Clutha helicopter crash
THE Clutha Bar fell silent tonight to mark a decade on from the horror chopper crash which claimed ten lives. Dozens of people gathered in the Glasgow[1] pub to pay their respects at 10.22pm, the exact time the tragedy unfolded.
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Two fire crews joined in a poignant minute’s silence outside the Clutha BarCredit: Les Gallagher
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Mary Kavanagh read a poem in tribute to those who lost their lives in the tragedyCredit: Les Gallagher
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The Clutha Choir performed a touching set of songsCredit: Les Gallagher
Some visitors, including survivors and relatives of victims, cried as the emotionally-charged bar went quiet during a minute’s silence. Two crews from Calton Fire Station, which was involved in the emergency response on the night of the tragedy, took part in the poignant remembrance.
They were joined at the city centre boozer by owner Alan Crossan[2], who hosted a special night of tributes. The Clutha Choir performed and members of The Clutha Trust, which helps disadvantaged kids, also attended to remember those who lost their lives.
Ten people died in the crash[3] – on 29 November 2013 – including seven punters and three crew members. Alan, 70, said: “The ten people who died will never be forgotten.
They will always be part of the Clutha and never far from our thoughts. “Tonight was always going to be emotional but we tried to honour them by doing what the Clutha does best, love, music and laughter. “It seems just like yesterday but at the same time so long ago.
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“Life goes on and we take comfort from the creation of the Clutha Trust which has raised hundreds of thousands for charity.” Mary Kavanagh, 69, was in the pub on the night of the crash[4] with her partner Robert Jenkins who was killed.
She said: “I come here on every anniversary with family and friends including Robert’s daughters Claire and Elaine. “This year seems a little different because ten years is obviously a milestone and there’s been a lot of attention around it. “We’ll raise a glass to Robert and everyone who lost their life.”
Sisters Ann Faulds, 57, and Nancy Primrose, 65, both survived the crash and returned to the pub. NHS worker Ann, of the city’s Springboig, said: “We came to pay our respects to those not as fortunate as us.” Firefighters from Calton Fire Station were among the first emergency crews to arrive at the scene on the night of the tragedy.
Watch commander Steven Young took part in the minute’s silence with his colleagues. He said: “It was a very touching service that we had there to pay our respects. It was a very difficult night for all the emergency services that were involved.
“But we did our best as we do with any emergency response. We just came down to give our respects to the families and our colleagues who were here that night.” The Clutha Choir – which was formed in tribute following the tragedy – performed a touching set of songs.
This included Labi Siffre’s 1987 classic (Something Inside) So Strong and tearjerker The Rose made famous by the Bette Midler movie of the same name in 1979. The pub is also set to host an open mic evening allowing people to make personal tributes through music or spoken word. Mary plans to recite a poem titled “Clutha” written by Glasgow poet Leyla Josephine.
Meanwhile Ex-Scottish Labour chief Jim Murphy has broken his silence ten years on from the crash and still regrets not being able to save lives. The former MP had just parked his car in the area when he was made aware of what had happened. He rushed to the scene where he helped the injured and emergency services.
Mr Murphy said: “When I got to the pub I saw people, not a huge number of people but some people, outside the pub and I thought: ‘Wonder what’s going on there?’ “And it’s only at the point I saw something sticking out the roof and realised that the helicopter hadn’t crashed into the Clyde but had actually crashed into the top of the pub. “I think what struck me was it was a very cold night and the scene was really quiet.
Bearing in mind what had just happened it was really eerily quiet.” He went on: “The abiding memory I have is: ‘Did you do enough? Could you have done more?’
“But I have no first aid qualifications and these are the benefits of thinking a decade later rather than in the spontaneous seconds that you have on the night. “I think about why didn’t I do more? I think about why didn’t I climb onto the roof of the pub and try and help people who obviously would still have been in the helicopter.
“I think, reflecting back, my abiding emotion would be: ‘You should have done more’.
“I drive past the pub and whenever I do that’s what I think.
What more should I have done?”
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The pub is also set to host an open mic evening allowing people to make personal tributesCredit: Alamy
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Sisters Ann Faulds, 57, and Nancy Primrose, 65, both survived the crashCredit: Les Gallagher
References
- ^ Glasgow (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
- ^ Alan Crossan (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
- ^ died in the crash (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)
- ^ on the night of the crash (www.thescottishsun.co.uk)