| Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond were among those at the service in Aberdeen this afternoon.
They were joined in the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.
Several streets were closed ahead of the service, and TV screens were put up outside the church for those unable to get in.
Speaking this morning, John Letford paid tribute to 40-year-old Dundee father-of-two, Nairn Ferrier, who was lost in the tragedy.
He said, “I’m immensely privileged to be able to pay my respects in person on such a terribly sad occasion and my thoughts will be with the families of the victims, and, in particular, with the Ferriers, who have had such a terrible few weeks.”
Angus father Gareth Hughes (53), of Friock- heim, was also killed when the Super Puma helicopter carrying 14 passengers and two crew from BP’s Miller platform went down 11 miles north-east of Peterhead two weeks ago today.
Half the victims were from the north-east of Scotland, seven from the rest of the UK, and one from Latvia.
The bodies of 13 of the men are to be returned to their families, Grampian Police and The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said last night.
The bodies of the three remaining victims will be returned to their families as soon as possible, they added.
Next of kin of all the victims have been informed, however the names of the men whose bodies are being returned have not been released.
An initial report into the crash by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch found the aircraft had a “catastrophic failure” in its main gearbox. It also concluded this failure caused the helicopter’s main rotor to detach from the aircraft and its tail to become severed from the fuselage.
Trade unions of offshore workers have called for all Super Puma helicopters to be grounded while safety inspections are carried out.
Industry body Oil & Gas UK said all safety requirements called for by accident investigators will be met. |
