Zeebrugge : Herald of Free Enterprise : 25 years ago today.

[TalkinPeace2]

I was working in Dover.
People I worked with lost their menfolk among the crew.

Several months later they towed the ship past the port - painted black - in the middle of the day.
THAT was the bit Dover never forgave them for.
P&O

I can't believe it was that long ago.

I am a Dover Girl.............

Will never forget that day or how many people it effected. The very sad stories of the chef's in the galley. Young workers 16/17.

RIP

I can't believe it's that long, it just feels like yesterday.

Such a sad, sad loss.

I too am a Dover girl. I can't believe it is 25 years ago - I can remember that night as clear as day. I was 18 at the time and my bf worked for Townsend's - but on the SOFE. I knew several families affected. I was on my own in the house that night and remember watching the new reports with mounting horror.

East Kent Mercury special report today with a list of those killed. May they RIP.

Sends a Dover gal wave to Portofino......

I was up in the morning waiting for Dogtanian to come one.......

Will ask my mum to get the mercury

Dear God - 25 years!

I never realised how many died
that list in the KM paper - a baby of 23 days and her mother
Just awful

I see in the Belgian news that they had a memorial service in Zeebrugge at the weekend.

And yes, at the baby - it just doesn't bear thinking about....

I was due to be on that boat with first DH but we could not get to Dover

Thoughts with families who lost loved one today

I was on it 6 weeks before it happened and remembered at the time wondering why they were sailing with the bow doors open. I felt unsafe and uneasy but didn't know why. It is and was the only crossing where I stayed next to the door to an outside deck the entire time.

10s of Forces families on the Herald of Free Enterprise coming back from Germany to the UK. My parents were returning from BFG that day to collect me from school but were on an earlier ferry. There but for the grace of God.

RIP

Terribly sad and the costa concordia news must have brought back some horrible memories for some

There was a woman on this morning today who was on it as a 16 year old. she talked about seeing a two year old child and it's been haunting me all day.

My heart goes out to those lost or who lost someone on either ship.

I saw that bronze. I keep thinking about the 2 year old, and having to identify your parents at 16. Awful.

A supply teacher who taught regularly at my school died on the Herald :(

my DH was in the forces and due to come home on that ferry. Thank God he missed it!

So many near misses! Were you due on the Sun daytrip, Rabid?

Some young friends of my mum were on it (Sun freebie). They were saved because they were sitting at a table that was attached to the floor. When the boat capsized one managed to cling to the table and she managed to hold onto her sister before she was swept away.

My thoughts are with those who weren't so lucky

HSMM Was he with a few other lads from the Royal Engineers by any chance, who missed it because of stopping to help at a (thankfully not serious) accident?

I can't believe it's been that long.
My mum worked with the man who made a bridge out of his body to help people to safety.

So sad. Can't get that Kent link to work though.

No - for someone reason they have closed it . There are other reports of the memorial service in Dover today but they removed the link with the list of the victims.....

I'm from East Kent and knew a lot of people who worked on the ferries. I remember being at a church event and news filtering through, and everyone joining in "Almighty Father, strong to save" (the "for those in peril on the sea" hymn).

I'm a local yokel too (more Hythe way). Terrible terrible time. So many near misses but unfortunately, so many more that did die.

RIP especially CC xxx his sister and family have never ever got over it and never will