Today (August 22), marks ten years since the day a vintage jet from the airshow crashed on the A27.Eleven men lost their lives in the incident.
The victims were: Maurice Abrahams, 76; Tony Brightwell, 53; Matthew Grimstone, Jacob Schilt and Daniele Polito, all 23; Matt Jones, 24; Graham Mallinson, 72; Mark Reeves, 53; Dylan Archer, 42; Richard Smith, 26, and Mark Trussler, 54, who all lived in Sussex.
To mark the anniversary, a memorial service was held for friends and families of the victims at St Nicolas Church in Shoreham.
Family and friends of the victims laid flowers on the Shoreham Toll Bridge (Image: Eddie Mitchell) The service included hymns and prayers of remembrance, as well as a poem read by Philip Grimstone, the father of victim Matthew. Members of the congregation were also handed tea lights which they lit during the service.
At 1.22pm, a two-minute silence was held on the Shoreham Toll Bridge, which is near to the crash site and the memorial for victims.
Hundreds of people gathered on the bridge to join in the silence, many laying flowers and other tributes. Emergency services also laid wreaths on the bridge.
Deacon Julie Newson read a list of the men’s names out and a section of the ‘For The Fallen’ poem, before the silence was held.
Anthony Mallinson, son of Graham Mallinson, described the day as “quite overwhelming”.
“After ten years with what we’ve been put through as the eleven families, it’s incredibly kind for everyone to come out today to support us all,” he said.
“We’ve had a lovely church service and very powerful church service which gives people time to reflect on those ten years, as it wasn’t just us eleven families.
“There were a lot of other people caught up in this for so many different reasons, so it’s also acknowledging those people as well. And the lasting effects on them.”
(Image: Sussex News and Pictures) Anthony was due to attend the airshow with his father, when he got delayed helping at his local church.
“I think about it every day, not the whole day, but it’s always in the back of our minds.
“It will never go away, especially because of the enormity of it all and because it’s been so public as well.
“I was delayed in getting down here, so I think that’s what’s hard to believe. If I’d have driven Dad down, where would I be now?”
Anthony still blames the pilot Andy Hill.
Mr Hill was charged with 11 counts of manslaughter by gross negligence but found not guilty on all counts in March 2019.
The bus named after Matthew Grimstone (Image: The Argus) Many members of Worthing FC were also in attendance to honour players, Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt. The pair were on the way to a game when the incident happened.
Mark Sanderson, chairman of Worthing FC, said: “It’s incredible that it was ten years ago. I remember the 22nd of August 2015 as if it was yesterday, every single part of that day.
“We were preparing for a match when it happened, and Matthew and Jacob were travelling to that match to play for us when they lost their lives.
“Every anniversary it’s tough but this year especially at 10 years, it’s extra special.”
The club has a range of tributes to honour the men, including having permanently retired the numbers 11 and 1 which Jacob and Matt played as. This season’s kit also featured an anniversary logo.
A Brighton and Hove Albion bus named in honour of Matthew was also parked near to the memorial today.
St Nicolas Church remained open throughout the day for members of the public to pay their tributes and to light candles in honour of the victims.
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