News

North Sea Flight 85N Memorial Trust Fund Makes Donations

The Flight 85N Memorial Trust is making £330,000 of donations next week from the Fund which was set up following the tragic helicopter incident last year.

The money is being distributed to 11 charities chosen by the 16 families whose loved ones died in the incident as North Sea Flight 85N was returning to Aberdeen on April 1, 2009.

The charities chosen by the families are:

• The RNLI
• CLAN (the Aberdeen-based cancer charity)
• Create (the Aberdeen-based learning disabilities charity)
• Cancer Research
• Alzheimer Scotland
• Help for Heroes
• Jump for Heroes
• Alder Hey Children’s Hospital
• St Richards Hospice in Worcester
• West Midlands Air Ambulance Service
• The Oil Chaplaincy Trust

Money is also being set aside to cover plans to create a permanent place for the Book of Condolence which was opened in the Oil Industry Chapel following the incident. Copies of the Book and a DVD of the Memorial Service have been presented to the families of those who lost their lives.

In addition, it is planned to provide a further symbol of remembrance to be located in a public garden in Aberdeen.  Discussions are taking place with the relevant authorities with a view to this being established as soon as practically possible during 2010.

“As a result of the generosity of the general public along with companies and people throughout the industry, a number of outstanding charities will benefit from significant donations made in memory of the men who so tragically lost their lives in this awful incident,” said Malcolm Webb of Oil & Gas UK and chairman of the Memorial Trust Fund committee.  “This is a significant achievement”.