Today (May 10) marks 20 years since seven people died in the tragic Potters Bar rail crash.
Six of the victims were passengers, who were: Austen Kark, 75; Emma Knights, 29; Chia-hsin Lin, 29; Prince Alexander Ogunwusi, 42; Jonael Schickler, 25, and Chia-Ching Wu, 30.
Agnes Quinlivan, 80, was killed by falling debris as she walked near the station.
The train at Potters Bar. Credit: PA
To pay respects to the seven deaths, a service was held at Our Lady and St Vincent Church, as well as a private memorial for family members at the station.
Following the service, many councillors and representatives of emergency services shared their thoughts twenty years on.
Read the original report at the time: Seven die in Potters Bar rail crash
Today, we laid a wreath of remembrance to mark the 20th anniversary of the Potters Bar rail crash.
Sarah Reid, route director, represented Network Rail alongside @GNRailUK & @HertsmereBC. pic.twitter.com/WXWjZzOkvE
— London King’s Cross (@NetworkRailKGX) May 10, 2022
Councillor John Graham, the deputy mayor of Hertsmere, said: “The incident left a profound and indelible mark on our community. We will never forget those who lost their lives or those left behind to grieve and forced to rebuild their worlds after it.
“Our thanks go to the emergency services, whose indefatigable efforts on the day helped ensure more lives were not lost.
From left to right, front row, are Deputy Mayor of Hertsmere, Cllr John Graham; Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Colonel Kevin Fitzgerald, and Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council, Cllr Seamus Quilty
“This incident had serious repercussions for local people, the rail industry, and other national institutions, but it also demonstrated the strength of the community spirit, which characterises Potters Bar and the whole of our borough. A spirit which lives on to this day.”
Hertfordshire remembers the 20th anniversary of the Potters Bar…
Source : times
