Centrica paid silent tribute to seven colleagues today, 10 years after they lost their lives when a helicopter travelling to a Morecambe Bay platform crashed in the East Irish Sea.
Les Ahmed, Alf Neasham, Jakie Shaw, Bob Warburton, Keith Smith, Steve Potton and Simon Foddering will be remembered by teams both offshore and onshore today.
A wreath was laid earlier this afternoon at the memorial to the men at Centrica’s office in Morecambe, while teams across Centrica’s Exploration & Production offices observed a minute’s silence. Offshore a wreath will be laid at 6.40pm, the time the incident took place on December 27, 2006.
Bill McKinlay, Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) on the South Morecambe platform, said: “Everyone who works offshore develops strong bonds with the people they work alongside, and so the loss of seven colleagues affects all of us.
“Today is a chance for all of us – friends, family and colleagues – to come together and remember them.”
Chris Cox, Managing Director of Centrica’s Exploration & Production business, said: “It is important for us to take this opportunity to reflect on that day and honour those who were lost.
“10 years on from an incident which was felt by everyone across Centrica, our thoughts are with the men’s families today.”