North Sea remembrance book to be dedicated

Four people died when the Super Puma went down off Shetland earlier this year. Picture: PA

A NEW book of remembrance, including the names of the four oil workers killed in the Sumburgh Head Super Puma disaster in August, will be dedicated this weekend at the annual Service of Remembrance for those who have lost their lives in the North Sea oil and gas industry.

The service will be held on Saturday in the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting in central Aberdeen.

A spokeswoman for Oil and Gas UK explained: “This year’s service, led by the chaplain to the UK oil and gas industry, the Reverend Gordon Craig, sees the introduction of a new Book of Remembrance, created to mark the 25th Anniversary year of the Piper Alpha disaster.

“The book is in two volumes: the first will provide a setting for anyone who wishes to commemorate a loved one who has died offshore from the beginning of the industry until 5 July this year, while the second will register all who have died since then.”

Mr Craig said: “The service will now follow a slightly different format to that of previous years, with the Book of Remembrance playing a key role. The names of everyone who lost their lives offshore during the preceding year, whether through tragic accident or natural causes, will be read out during the service as an act of remembrance.

“This year, the first names to be included in the Book of Remembrance will be the seven who have died offshore in the past twelve months, including those who perished in the tragic helicopter accident off Sumburgh Head, Shetland, on 23 August 2013.”

The 50 minute service is expected to be attended by those who work in the UK’s offshore oil and gas industry, friends and families as well as by civic dignitaries and members of the general public.

Those who died when the CHC-operated Super Puma plunged into the sea off the southern tip of Shetland were Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin, Gary McCrossan, 59, from Inverness, Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland, and George Allison, 57, from Winchester.