Community praised as airshow disaster memorial approaches

A SUSSEX MP has praised the community for coming together as the final details of a memorial service for victims of the Shoreham Airshow disaster are prepared.
Mr Cameron with MP Tim Loughton on The Old Toll Bridge, ShorehamMr Cameron with MP Tim Loughton on The Old Toll Bridge, Shoreham
Mr Cameron with MP Tim Loughton on The Old Toll Bridge, Shoreham

The service, at Lancing College on November 22, will pay tribute to the eleven victims and recognise the role carried out by the emergency services.

Attendance at the service will be invitation only, with priority given to victims’ families and emergency responders who were among the first on the scene.

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East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton said: “The memorial service will pay tribute to the victims of the Shoreham Air Show tragedy.

“It has been humbling to see the support from the community for the service. Thank you to everyone who has helped it to come together.”

A wide range of organisations have been involved in the memorial service preparations.

Lancing College is providing the chapel, organising refreshments and printing the order of service.

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Ricardo, in Shoreham, is providing secure car parking, while West Sussex County Council will provide minibuses and volunteer drivers to transport people to the chapel.

Police cadets, Air Training Corps cadets and Explorer scouts will act as stewards.

St John Ambulance will be on hand to provide first aid assistance and event management will be controlled by Security and Event Solutions, of Brighton.

Adur and Worthing councils are printing all of the attendance cards and information sheets.

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Louise Goldsmith, leader of West Sussex County Council, said: “The service is a chance for the families affected by this terrible tragedy to come together with those who were first on the scene and to take time to pause and reflect.”

The service has been organised by a group of local authority leaders and representatives of the emergency services, brought together by Mr Loughton.

Eleven men – Matt Jones, Matthew Grimstone, Jacob Schilt, Daniele Polito, Mark Trussler, Maurice Abrahams, Mark Reeves, Richard Smith, Dylan Archer, Tony Brightwell and Graham Mallinson – died when a vintage Hawker Hunter jet crashed on the A27 on during the 26th annual Shoreham Airshow on August 22.