Bedfordshire victims of Zeebrugge disaster remembered

Four local victims of the Zeebrugge disaster are remembered today, the 30th anniversary of the disaster which claimed 193 lives.

Jacqueline Reeder aged 16 from Dunstable, David Saxby, 44 from Luton, Alan Woodall, 24, from Luton and Barry Sopp aged 44 from Bedfordshire, were all passengers on the Herald of Free Enterprise, when it capsized as it left Zeebrugge harbour on March 6, 1987.

he bow door had been left open which allowed millions of tonnes of water to flood into the boat, quickly capsizing it.

A total of 346 passengers and crew were rescued. Many of those who died were victims of hypothermia.

A service to remember the victims takes place at St Mary’s Church in Cannon Street, Dover, from 11am today.