Memorial Service to mark 10^th anniversary of air tragedy at Shap on 22^nd October 1999.

The parish church of St. Michael’s in Shap was packed for a special memorial service to mark the tenth anniversary of the events on 22^nd October 1999 when a RAF Hawk from 100 Squadron based at RAF Leeming, crashed on the northern outskirts of the village killing the two crew members, Squadron Leader Mike Andrews and Flight Lieutenant Steve Todd. 

The service began with a procession of clergy; then the colours of the Air Training Corps Squadrons from Carlisle, Workington, Penrith and Appleby were received at the altar.  The Revd Beverley Lock welcomed everyone, especially the families of Sqn. Ldr. Andrews who had travelled from Hampshire and Flt. Lt. Todd who had come from Lincolnshire; representatives of the RAF and ATC and villagers. Among the congregation was Colin Murray the Parcel Force van driver whose vehicle was hit by debris on the bridge, and Geoff Ellington from Penrith who was at the time the Shap milkman, and who took swift action to help Mr Murray and alert the emergency services. There were also many of the local people whose homes were damaged in the explosion.

The service was conducted by Revd Chris Casey, Wing Chaplain to Cumbria and North Lancashire Air Training Corps; a lesson from the Book of Isaiah was read by Wing Commander Peter Squires, Officer Commanding 100 Squadron, RAF Leeming.

In his sermon, Revd Casey said that the families of the men who died in the accident had to rebuild their lives and go forward.  Likewise the people of Shap whilst deeply shocked by the events; were relieved that the plane had missed the village, but it stopped people in their tracks and made them think about and re-evaluate their lives.

He quoted lines form the poem ‘The Joy of Flight’ written in 1917 by Paul Bewsher, the two last lines: ‘Kind is the God who lets me fly, In sweet seclusion through the sky.’ He said that we should live our lives in humility, knowing that God holds our future in His hands, and to open our hearts to each new perspective.

Prayers were led by Mrs Lock, and the organist for the hymns was Janet Wood. Following the Commendation, the procession reformed and processed to the memorial site at Skew Bridge, where prayers were said and wreaths laid by: 100 Squadron, the ATC, Mary and Courtney Andrews, Steve Todd’s mother Dorothy Murdoch, Tony Parrini, and Colin Murray. The lines from Binyon’s To the Fallen were read and a two minute silence was observed.  Traffic was halted on the A6 for a short time whilst the ceremony at the memorial took place.

Following the service, Communion was celebrated in church for any who wished to receive it, and women from the church served refreshments in the Memorial hall, this gave an opportunity for everyone to have a chat and rekindle acquaintances as well as meeting new people.  At the end of the gathering two Air Cadets presented bouquets to both mothers, Mary Andrews and Dorothy Murdoch.