Memorial unveiled to honour victims of Morecambe Bay tragedy

A memorial dedicated to the victims of the Morecambe Bay helicopter tragedy, which led to seven men, including pilot Steve Potton (Senior warden of Onward Lodge No 5540), in losing their lives in the Morecambe Bay helicopter crash

Onward Lodge will maintain the memorial as a tribute to one of its members Steve Potton.

five years ago, has been unveiled in Fleetwood near the port’s RNLI Station. The town and the site of the memorial were chosen for the tribute due to the heroic efforts of Fleetwood Lifeboat-men during the tragedy.

On December 27, 2006, the SA365 Dauphin helicopter, which was picking up rig workers off Morecambe Bay, crashed into the Irish Sea killing all the men on board. Despite the best efforts of the rescuers by sea and by air battling appalling weather conditions there were no survivors.

County Councillor Andrea Kay and Sandra Potton who worked together to see the project completed.

Families of the men, led by Steve’s wife Sandra, together with County Councillor Andrea Kay who has been working with them on the project (the costs of which have been met by Sandra) made it their goal to erect the memorial stone as a lasting memory to those who perished on that fateful night.

The families and friends of those who were lost, RNLI and community leaders, Mayor of Wyre Councillor David Bannister, APrGM Terry Hudson and Masons from all parts of the Fylde together with standard bearers from the Old Comrades Association, attended a special service which was held nearby Fleetwood RNLI Station on The Esplanade, Fleetwood.

Sandra (centre picture) with other wives and family members at the unveiling of the memorial.

Sandra Potton set the scene with a poignant welcome to the gathering of some 200 people, with the event being reported by television crews and the local press. Chris Hurst MBE, the RNLI Coxswain on 27 December 2006, read from Ecclesiastes, ‘there is a time for everything,’ after which family member Louise Harrison sang a moving vocal tribute with, ‘there you’ll be’. The Rev Michael Payne gave the address and led the singing of, ‘for those in peril on the sea’ which was accompanied by Rossall School Band.

Sandra unveiled the memorial stone which names all of those who died including Steve’s co-pilot Simon Foddering from Preston. The stone also pays tribute to the bravery of the search and rescue teams who braved both sea and sky to fight for our loved ones.

Floral tributes presented by youngsters from Rossall School were laid by the men’s wives and families.

After the dedication Rev Stephen Cooper, the RNLI Chaplain, gave prayers for the Rescue Services and the Mayor spoke of the debt owed to the RNLI, the police and the other rescue services.

The memorial which bears an image of a helicopter, a gas rig, an RNLI rescue boat and a forget-me-not also has a Masonic square and compasses and the legend, ‘To be maintained by Onward Lodge at Fleetwood’. It is hoped that the memorial will be a gathering place to remember the men at the same time every year.

Sandra Potton leads the service and is accompanied by Rev Michael Payne, Councillor Andrea Kay, and Mayor David Bannister.