Memorial marks crash anniversary

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Survivors of the Potters Bar rail crash and those bereaved by the tragedy gathered for a memorial service to mark the fifth anniversary of the disaster.

The service was held at a memorial garden close to Potters Bar station, Herts, where a West Anglia Great Northern train derailed on 10 May 2002.

A two-minute silence was held at 12.56pm - the exact time of the crash which claimed seven lives.

Rev Michael Burns read out the names of the victims during the service.

Mr Burns later said about 60 people had attended the service, with families of those killed travelling from as far as Scotland to pay their respects.

There is a feeling after five years that the families would like to move on with their lives Rev Michael Burns

He said: "It was a very moving experience and I think they appreciated the opportunity to meet and talk to each other and give each other support."

Afterwards some, including Diana Fischer-Schickler whose son Jonael, 25, was the youngest person to die in the disaster, laid flowers by the plaque built in memory of the victims.

The recent Cumbria derailment which, like Potters Bar, was caused by a faulty set of points, has led to calls for public inquiries to be held into both disasters.

Mr Burns, who is vicar of King Charles the Martyr church in Potters Bar, said earlier: "There is a feeling after five years that the families would like to move on with their lives.

"But they were upset when the Cumbria crash occurred and that's why there have been renewed calls for public inquiries."