Events mark 10th anniversary of Shoreham air crash

The names of the 11 men who died in the Shoreham air crash have been read out at a commemoration to mark the 10th anniversary of the disaster.

On 22 August 2015 a vintage Hawker Hunter jet crashed on to a main road, the A27, whilst attempting to perform a mid-air stunt.

Friday’s commemorations saw a private church service for the families of those who died as well as a two-minute silence, and flowers were laid at a memorial in the West Sussex town.

Some relatives of those who died gathered early on Friday to lay flowers on the Old Shoreham Toll Bridge over the River Adur, which became the focus for grief after the tragedy.

The family of 23-year-old footballer Matthew Grimstone was amongst them.

Phil Grimstone, his father, told the BBC: “He was a lovely boy. So kind, so gentle.”

All county council flags as well as those at West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service buildings were lowered to half-mast as a mark of respect.

Reverend Pat Alden, who took the private memorial service for the bereaved families at St Nicholas’ Church in Old Shoreham, told BBC Radio Sussex: “It is a time not just of sorrow, but where we remember all the good things.

“We are here for the 11 men who died and also for the 16 who were injured and the many others who suffered from the events of 10 years ago.

“We want to remember and we don’t want people to forget.”

Families of those who died said it was the largest gathering of relatives and friends of victims since the tragedy.

Families and friends processed out of the church to a nearby memorial arch where they were joined by onlookers walking on to the wooden bridge.

At 13:22 BST, the exact time the plane crashed, a public commemoration took place at the centre of the bridge where there is now a memorial stone.

The names of the 11 men who died were read out, followed by a two-minute silence.

Then 11 doves were released.

Flowers were laid by relatives, friends and those affected by the tragedy.

As a mark of respect all aircraft movements in and out of Shoreham Airport were paused during the ceremony.

Anthony Mallinson, whose father James “Graham” Mallinson died in the disaster, said: “It has been a moving day and very powerful.

“It has brought us comfort. We were overwhelmed with the number of people who joined us.”

Oliver Morriss, the nephew of Mark Reeves who also died, said: “What really hit home most was having the emergency services, local people and the community coming together. That was really touching.”

Eleven men died during the Shoreham Airshow disaster.

They were:

Matthew Jones, 24, a personal trainer from Littlehampton

Daniele Polito, 23, from Goring-by-Sea, was travelling in the same car as Mr Jones

Matthew Grimstone, 23, a Worthing United footballer who worked as a groundsman at Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club

Jacob Schilt, 23, was also a Worthing United player and was travelling to a match with Mr Grimstone

Maurice Abrahams, 76, from Brighton, was a chauffeur on his way to pick up a bride on her wedding day

Richard Smith, 26, from Hove, was going for a bike ride on the South Downs

Dylan Archer, 42, from Brighton, was also on the bike ride with Mr Smith

Mark Reeves, 53, from Seaford, had ridden his motorcycle to the perimeter of Shoreham Airport to take photos of the planes

Tony Brightwell, 53, from Hove, was an aircraft enthusiast and had learnt to fly at Shoreham airfield

Mark Trussler, 54, from Worthing, had gone to watch the display on his motorbike and was standing next to the road

James “Graham” Mallinson, 72, from Newick, was a photographer and retired engineer

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