Hundreds gather for oil rig disaster memorial

Jul 6 2008

HUNDREDS will gather today to remember loved ones who died in the Piper Alpha disaster 20 years ago.

Oil and GasUK Chaplain Andrew Jolly will lead a service at the Kirk of St Nicholas in Aberdeen at 2pm which First Minister Alex Salmond will attend.

Later, at the Piper Alpha Memorial in the city's Hazlehead Park, there will be an act of remembrance.

Widow Ann Gillanders will be among those laying flowers in a ceremony to mark the anniversary.

Her husband Ian, a pipe fitter, was one of 167 men who lost their lives on July 6, 1988, when the North Sea oil platform exploded into flames. His body was never recovered. Ann, 63, of Nairn, said: "Some days the tragedy seems like it happened centuries ago but on others it seems like only yesterday.

"I think the trauma of the whole thing just does not go away."

Of the 226 men working on the rig, operated by the giant Occidental oil firm, only 59 survived, many with horrendous injuries.

Gran-of-one Ann said: "Ian's remains were never found, which has made it hard to let go and say goodbye properly but this year we have decided to put up a headstone.

"Ian was a very loving family man and I can still hear the sound of his laughter."