Memorial service to be held for Ufton Nervet victims

An open memorial service will be held for anyone who wishes to pay their respects to those killed in Ufton Nervet derailment, the Bishop of Reading has announced today.

The Rt. Revd. Stephen Cottrell said that after "consultation with many people involved in the tragic de-railing" he had decided to arrange a memorial service at the Minster Church of St Mary in Reading. It will take place at 2pm on December 8.

Six passengers and a car driver died as a result of the high-speed train crash at a level-crossing near Ufton Nervet on the evening of November 6.

The youngest was nine-year-old Louella Main who perished with her mother Anjanetta Rossi (39). The others who died were: Emily Webster (14); Barry Strevens (55); Leslie Charles Matthews (72); and train driver Stanley Martin (54). The driver of the car was Brian Drysdale (48).

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) probe, which focused on the railway aspects of the derailment at Ufton Automatic Half Barrier level crossing, found that Mr Drysdale stopped his car on the crossing before the barrier sequence started. He then "made no attempt to leave the vehicle once the crossing traffic signals began to flash and the barriers descended".

There were at least 180 passengers and four crew on board when the derailment occurred at 6.11pm. Seven people died and 37 passengers were taken to hospital.

The executive's inspectors found that the crossing's signal sequence worked correctly and gave the full 27 seconds warning. An off-duty policeman who happened to be at the scene when the sequence began reported that the car driver made no attempt to leave his vehicle once it became clear a train was oncoming.

Neither railway infrastructure nor staff error were in any way to blame for the train derailment at Ufton Nervet, the HSE said.

"Families and friends of the bereaved and injured; passengers on the train, members of the emergency services who responded, rail staff, members of the local communities affected, the many agencies and caring groups, and representatives of other faith communities are all welcome," the bishop said.

The Minster Church of St Mary in Reading is only a short walk from Reading Station, and First Great Western have offered complimentary rail transport on any train services operated by First Great Western and First Great Western Link for anyone attending the memorial service. Details of how to apply for tickets will be announced later.

Further information about the memorial service will be available on the Oxford Diocesan website www.oxford.anglican.org

(gmcg)