ON Friday night, the last missing man killed when Didcot Power Station collapsed was finally found. It brought to an end a six month search that must have caused untold pain to the families waiting for their loved ones to be returned to them.

The absolute priority since the collapse has been the recovery of the missing men so they can be returned to their families. But while this took place, Thames Valley Police and the Health and Safety Executive launched a joint investigation into the cause of the incident. This inevitably delayed the recovery effort, as every item removed from the site has had to be forensically analysed.

It’s difficult to over-estimate the challenge of the operation. The wreckage of the collapse was nine metres high, with 17,000 tons of material on the ground. It was essential, as well, that the work was done without any further lives being put at risk. A new contractor was appointed to take over from the original demolition contractor, and the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence approved the deployment of military aid to support the recovery.

Nevertheless, I have expressed my concerns about how long RWE – the owners of the site - took to come up with a plan for demolition to enable recovery of the bodies, and I have also criticised them for what I believe has been poor communication with the families. On a more positive note, I have been overwhelmed with how the Didcot community has rallied around during such an unpleasant period for the town. From baking cakes for the rescue workers, support for the families of the missing men and setting up a book of condolence. There are also plans to hold a service at All Saints Church, which I will make every effort to attend.

Once some time has passed it will be appropriate to think of a tribute to the four men. It would be fitting for some kind of memorial to be put in place, to commemorate the lives of Chris Huxtable, John Shaw, Ken Cresswell, and Mick Collings.