The Trident 'Papa India' 50th Anniversary Memorial Service

The 50th Anniversary Service will be held on Saturday June 18th 2022 at St Mary's Church, Staines, at 11:00am. It will be preceded by an ‘Act of Rededication’ at the Memorial Garden in Waters Drive, Staines, TW18 4RP.

On Saturday June 18th 2022, at 11:00am, a Memorial Service will be held at St Mary's in Church Street, Staines, Surrey, TW18 4YF, where a commemorative stained glass widow has been installed on the south elevation of this striking early nineteenth century church. There has been a church on the site since 1179 and the window was dedicated in 2004.

The window was designed by Artemis Decorative Glass and depicts a dove, to represent peace, soaring over a landscape of trees. The window is framed by stars, which are symbolic of the 118 souls of the victims. All passengers and staff on board the British European Airways flight 548, from London Heathrow to Brussels, died when the plane crashed on June 18th, 1972, just two-minutes after take-off.

On June 18th (the actual 50th anniversary of the accident) there will initially be prayers, wreath laying and dedications in the Trident ‘Papa India’ Memorial Garden at 10:00am in the Moormead Sports Ground off of Waters Drive, Staines, TW18 4RP.

The circular garden, which is close to where the incident took place, adjacent to Staines by-pass, was officially opened on June 18th 2004 with a small service led by Rev Rod Cosh, then Vicar of the Parish of Staines, and Bishop Michael Colclough, then Bishop of London. The garden has been designed to provide a peaceful area for reflection by friends and relatives as they remember those who lost their lives.

As the Memorials this year are for the 50th Anniversary invitees will include the Belgian Ambassador, the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, the Bishop of Kensington, the Mayor of Spelthorne, the Chief Executive of British Airways, and other senior dignitaries. We anticipate attendance by a significant number of the families of those who were lost, together with members of the Emergency Services who fought so bravely to rescue them.

All are welcome to attend either, or both, services and to meet colleagues, family and friends as they come together in memory and praise. Please do Register if you wish to attend, in order to allow us to make the correct catering arrangements.