Sussex Commemorates 10th Anniversary Shoreham Airshow Disaster Deaths

Ten years after the tragic Shoreham air disaster, in which a vintage Hawker Hunter jet crashed onto the A27, killing eleven men and injuring sixteen others, families and communities across Sussex gathered to commemorate the victims. Memorial services, including a private church service at St Nicolas Church in Shoreham and a public two-minute silence on the Shoreham Toll Bridge near the crash site, were held to honor those who lost their lives, with flowers and tributes laid at a memorial stone. Among the victims were footballers Matthew Grimstone and Jacob Schilt, who were on their way to play for Worthing United FC; their families continue to organize annual memorial matches and fundraising events, emphasizing how football keeps their memory alive. Community leaders and emergency services reflected on the profound and lasting impact of the disaster, recognizing the courage of first responders and the ongoing grief experienced by families and survivors. The crash remains the deadliest airshow incident in the UK in over 50 years, with the pilot, who survived, acquitted of manslaughter charges after a trial. The anniversary gatherings represented the largest assembly of victims' relatives and friends since the tragedy, underscoring the enduring communal and personal significance of the event.