POLITICIANS, emergency service leaders and members of the Didcot community paid tribute to the four men killed by the collapse of the boiler house at the town's power station today.

At a memorial service, the bells of All Saints Church and organ of All Saints Church sounded out as people, all affected in different ways by the tragedy, walked into the parish in Lydalls Road on this morning.

Prayers were made and hymns were sang in a service which aimed to shed light on the darkness of the tragedy which happened in February.

MP for Didcot and Wantage Ed Vaizey and Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue chief Dave Etheridge gave readings, while Police South and Vale Supt Rory Freeman and former town mayor Des Healy paid their respects with short speeches.

Reverend Karen Beck thanked the 60-strong group who attended the church and opened the service with a prayer to Mick Collings, Chris Huxtable, Ken Cresswell and John Shaw who died after half of a 10-storey boiler house collapsed at Didcot A.

Rev Beck said: "All of us who have gathered here today have been affected by events on February 23, more so the families and friends of the four men who lost their lives that day."

Des Healy, who was mayor at the time of disaster and worked at Didcot Power Station for 27 years praised the togetherness and fighting spirit of the town's people.

He added: "If life is a test then it has taught me this. You cannot choose when things happen, you can only react to when they do happen.

"It's about how you react and I firmly believe the people of Didcot have past that test."

Chief fire officer Mr Etheridge told the Oxford Mail he was "honoured" to give a reading at the memorial.

He added: "From the beginning of this incident we only had one outcome and that was to return these missing men to their loved ones.

"It has been over six months, it's been hugely complex, but we are all now relieved that aim has been achieved and our thoughts remain with the families. 

"This was a really good opportunity for the community to come together and reflect not only on the accident, it made me realise what a huge part the power station has played here for decades."

Last week, an inquest opened into the deaths of Mr Huxtable 33, from Swansea, Mr Cresswell, 57 and Mr Shaw, 61, both from Rotherham.

The post mortem examinations indicated the men had died from 'multiple injuries' after a large section of the former boiler house collapsed while it was being prepared for demolition.

Herald Series:

An inquest was opened in March Mr Collings, 53, from Teesside.
No date has been given for continuation of the inquests due to the ongoing police and Health ans Safety Executive investigation.

Mr Vaizey said Rev Beck and reverend Hannah Reynolds had got the service "exactly right".

He told the Oxford Mail: "It was right to have it quite soon after the last man was found. I hope it can bring some closure to he families the community in Didcot and the emergency services.

"We have been through spring and summer and these lads were lost in the winter, so I'm hoping this can bring some closure."

A book of condolences was signed after the service as people left the church.
Rory Freeman, LPA commander for South and Vale, said February 23 would be a date "etched into our minds".

He added the families of the four men had told the emergency services of their appreciation to the community's reaction.

Supt Freeman said it was important to find the answers and learn lessons to make sure it would "never happen again".

Current Mayor Steve Connel said the town's link to the power station connected everyone to the tragedy.

He added: "The service was very nice. Most of the comments were simply about Didcot trying to shine some light in a time of darkness."