Three-minute silence to be held for fire victims

A three-minute silence is set to be held for two firefighters and a member of the public who died in a blaze last week.

Firefighters Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, along with father-of-two Dave Chester, 57, were killed in the fire that engulfed the Bicester Motion site in Oxfordshire on 15 May.

Bicester Town Council is holding a "moment of silence" for the three at Garth Park on Friday at 19:00 BST.

Reverend Peter Wright from St Edburg's Church, who will lead the service, said it was an opportunity for the community to "come together" and would involve three-minutes of quiet - one for each of the victims.

"Something like this draws a community together," he said.

"It's just an opportunity for the community to... express that sense of solidarity with the families and the friends and all those who're mourning."

He said the victims' families were feeling "a great sense of shock and disbelief", but had been "drawing comfort from the outpouring of " from the community in Bicester.

"Jenny, Martin and Dave were well-known in the community, much-loved," he said.

"All of that has been a great for them."

Bicester Motion is home to more than 50 specialist businesses, focused on classic car restoration and engineering on the former site of RAF Bicester.

The fire at the site was reported at about 18:30 BST on 15 May and rapidly spread through a former aircraft hangar at the site on Buckingham Road.

The following day, Thames Valley Police named the victims as Ms Logan, Mr Sadler - who started his wholetime firefighter training with Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service - and Mr Chester.

CEO Daniel Geoghegan released a statement on Thursday saying he had been "deeply moved" by the and kindness of the community.

"Above all, we are thinking of Jennie Logan, Martyn Sadler and Dave Chester," he said.

"Their response to the fire was marked by courage and selflessness. We are profoundly grateful for their bravery."

He also thanked the emergency services for their response.

"The dedication and resolve shown, often by those who returned to duty the very next day, has been so humbling," he said.

There was a private ceremony for representatives from the emergency services held in Garth Park on Thursday night, and all 25 fire stations in Oxfordshire held a minute silence at 18:39 to mark a week on from the first call being made.

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