COUNTY NEWS: Sussex to join in one minute silence for airshow victims

Communities across Sussex will fall silent tomorrow (Saturday) as thousands of families and businesses pay tribute to the victims of the Shoreham Air Show crash.
Floral tributes to the victims of the Shoreham Airshow crash placed on the Shoreham TollbridgeFloral tributes to the victims of the Shoreham Airshow crash placed on the Shoreham Tollbridge
Floral tributes to the victims of the Shoreham Airshow crash placed on the Shoreham Tollbridge

A minute’s silence will be observed at 1.20pm to mark the time last Saturday when a vintage Hawker Hunter jet crashed onto the busy A27 road, killing 11 people.

Among those who will be observing the silence will be Shoreham residents who will gather at the Tollbridge to pay their respects at 1.20pm.

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The wooden bridge has become a focal point for the community in the wake of the tragedy and hundreds of bouquets of flowers have been laid in memory of those who lost their lives.

Later on Saturday a candlelit vigil will be held at the Adur Ferry Bridge from 7.30pm as part of Shoreham’s annual River Fest event this Bank Holiday weekend.

The minute’s silence will also be observed in scores of other towns and villages as the Sussex community tries to come to terms with its loss. Many shops and businesses are also expected to observe the silence.

Details of where people can take part in a community-led minute’s silence can be found at the website Click Here at the community events link. Those planning to organise a special event this weekend can also post details at the site.

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Neil Parkin, leader of Adur District Council, said: “These community events demonstrate the strength of the feelings shared by everyone who has been touched by this tragedy. The experience of sharing a minute of silence is so powerful and will be a fitting moment of reflection one week on.”

A minute’s silence will also be observed at the Remembrance in the Park event in Lancing Manor tomorrow.

One by one flowers and favourite CDs and DVDs will be laid in tribute to those who died. Worthing Carnival will go ahead as planned tomorrow but there too revellers will fall silent as they pause and pay their respects.

Leader of Worthing Borough Council, Daniel Humphreys, added: “At times such as these, opportunities to come together are more important than ever. I know that across Worthing people will also be silent for a minute on Saturday to remember all of those affected, whether in Shoreham or elsewhere across the country.”

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With the A27 still closed and diversions in place, John O’Brien, West Sussex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, urged people to look at www.shorehamcondolence.org to find the event most local to them.

He said: “It is understandable, one week on from this terrible tragedy, that people may want to travel to Shoreham to pay their respects and show solidarity with a community still reeling from the shock of that terrible day.

“However I would urge people to observe a minute’s silence either at a local event or as they go about their normal day. No matter where we are on Saturday at 1.20pm we can all stop, pause and pay our respects to those who lost their lives.”

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