Community response to Shoreham tragedy is archived

ARCHIVISTS have begun the ‘overwhelming’ task of preserving the hundreds of tributes from the Shoreham Tollbridge.
Wendy Walker, County Archivist with Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, looking at some of the messages left. ks1500488-1 SUS-150928-164211008Wendy Walker, County Archivist with Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, looking at some of the messages left. ks1500488-1 SUS-150928-164211008
Wendy Walker, County Archivist with Louise Goldsmith, Leader of West Sussex County Council, looking at some of the messages left. ks1500488-1 SUS-150928-164211008

The West Sussex Record Office now holds all of the messages, which were coming under threat from the autumn weather.

“You might say why is this important? But it’s a record of an emergency – a really bad terrible tragedy – in West Sussex,” said county council leader Louise Goldsmith today (September 28).

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“In the future we will have that community record for people and families.”

Senior Archivist, Jennifer Mason, archiving the items.ks1500488-6 SUS-150928-164059008Senior Archivist, Jennifer Mason, archiving the items.ks1500488-6 SUS-150928-164059008
Senior Archivist, Jennifer Mason, archiving the items.ks1500488-6 SUS-150928-164059008

She described it as ‘history in the making’.

“When I was first on the bridge, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced something quite so emotional in my life.”

She said she was so thankful to all the community for all the tributes and said it was a privilege to conserve them for future generations to remember.

“This is living history. This is history in the making. For us to be able to record it is an absolute privilege.”

The tribute from the Rising Sun Pub in Upper Beeding. Reproduced with kind permission of the pubThe tribute from the Rising Sun Pub in Upper Beeding. Reproduced with kind permission of the pub
The tribute from the Rising Sun Pub in Upper Beeding. Reproduced with kind permission of the pub
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She particularly thanked all the volunteers involved and said her thoughts were very much with the families affected by the tragedy.

“It’s almost indescribable what they must be going through at the moment. We’re there to support them and help them. I do hope in time they will come to the record office and this will provide some comfort for them.”

She particularly highlighted a message from the Rising Sun pub in Upper Beeding – which was written on a card that had been dried out at the record office.

The call has gone out from the record office for members of the public to take part in the unique community archive following the air show tragedy.

Conservation work in progress. ks1500488-3 SUS-150928-164155008Conservation work in progress. ks1500488-3 SUS-150928-164155008
Conservation work in progress. ks1500488-3 SUS-150928-164155008
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

County archivist Wendy Walker said she had never been involved in anything like this before and said it was the Shoreham Recovery Group who had approached the record office asking if they could help store the hundreds of tributes.

The archive will also include the books of condolence and other items.

Memory sticks are available to members of the public so they can add their own photographs and other documents to the archive. They can also be emailed to [email protected]

The archive will be held at West Sussex Record Office in Chichester in safe, environmentally-controlled conditions.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Archivists at the Record Office are expertly drying and conserving the hundreds of tributes. The archive will then be catalogued and will be available in the public search room for people to see and use both now and in the years to come.

It is expected to be ready to view next year, although family members of the 11 victims will be able to view it sooner.

Local media organisations are also being invited to add newspapers, film, photographs and other footage to the archive.

For more information about the archive contact West Sussex Record Office on 01243 753600 or see www.westsussex.gov.uk

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it

Related topics: