King sends ‘heartfelt prayers’ to Selby rail crash memorial service
By Cristina Diciu
The King has sent his "heartfelt thoughts and prayers" to those gathered to mark the 25th anniversary of the Selby rail crash, the organiser of a memorial service has said.
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Four railway workers and six passengers died when an InterCity passenger service and a fully laden coal train collided at a closing speed of more than 140mph, near the village of Great Heck, in North Yorkshire, on February 28 2001.
Relatives of those who died were joined at Selby Abbey on Saturday by members of the emergency services and rail workers for a service during which candles were lit for each of the 10 victims.
Former British Transport Police superintendent Tony Thompson, who attended the scene in 2001 and co-ordinated the memorial service, told the Press Association he had read out a letter sent to him by the King's private secretary.
A copy of the letter was shared with PA and read: "It was deeply moving to be reminded of the reverence shown towards both those who lost their lives and those whose lives have been forever changed."
His Majesty, whose heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and all those affected, has asked me to send his warmest good wishes to all those who will be gathered for this significant day of remembrance."
The crash was caused when a Land Rover, driven by Gary Hart, careered off the nearby M62 motorway after he had little sleep the night before.
A GNER Newcastle to London passenger service derailed as it struck Hart's vehicle and was then hit by the Freightliner train carrying 1,600 tonnes of coal coming the other way, with catastrophic results.
The accident claimed the lives of John Weddle, the GNER driver, Steve Dunn, the Freightliner driver, and eight other men - Steve Baldwin, Alan Ensor, Raymond Robson, Paul Taylor, Clive Vidgen, Barry Needham, Robert Shakespeare and Christopher Terry.
Relatives of those who died will be joined at Selby Abbey on Saturday by members of the emergency services and rail workers for a service during which candles will be lit for each of the 10 victims. Picture: PAThe then-Prince of Wales attended a service in York Minster in 2001 commemorating the victims.
Mr Thompson said the service had been "emotional" at times and had been attended by around 200 people including the first ambulance officer who arrived at the scene of the crash.
Of the importance of the event, he added: "I think obviously any death is important but, when you're part of a national disaster, I think it's really important that you can gather together as a group and remember together and share what has gone on."
Hart could not move his vehicle off the tracks and was calling the emergency services when the crash happened.
He denied falling asleep at the wheel but a jury found him guilty of 10 charges of causing death by dangerous driving.
He was sentenced to five years in jail, serving around half that time.
References
- ^ King visits top UK operational military headquarters (www.lbc.co.uk)
- ^ King takes part in air defence exercise and meets military families at barracks (www.lbc.co.uk)