Fomer RAF 14MU officer Tony Parrini, of Carlisle, was among the military personnel drafted into Lockerbie. He shares his story.

It is hard to believe that 30 years have passed since the terrible night of 21st December 1988. During the afternoon I had been enjoying the office Christmas party with my young, generally female, office staff of DDSM15(RAF), an MOD department located just inside the gate at No 6 Site – near Rockcliffe, never imagining my involvement in the events over the next few days........

The office party concluded when the disco stopped at about 4pm and the bus arrived to take the deliver the staff around the town or in my case, back to the ever understanding wife where I drank black coffee telling half truths of the events of the afternoon. After a quick change and a meal I dropped off in front of the television, tired and overcome by the liquid refreshments of the afternoon.

Suddenly it was time to go back into town for a carol service at Our Lady and St Joseph’s church which we thought was due to start at 7pm only to find that some churches had advertised the start as 7.30pm. No problem, we hastily arranged with the organist to lead a few extra carols and that the fourth item would be my party-piece! Everything went well and the carol service concluded with Adeste Fideles, after which refreshments were served in the Knight’s Club in Warwick Square. As we made our way passed the bar and upstairs, there was News Flash “A Major Air Crash over Lockerbie.”

I went to immediately to the happy carollers who by this time were well settled with their tea and biscuits, interrupting the banter to announce the sketchy details of the disaster – someone immediately led the assembled throng in prayers for the dead and injured, still not realising the magnitude of the tragedy. A subdued atmosphere fell; people quickly drank up, wished each other Happy Christmas and scurried off home.

As I descended the stairs, duty done – I thought, the club phone was ringing. It was my son “You’ve got to report to Station Headquarters (SHQ) with full kit: you’ve got to go to Lockerbie”.

It is surprising how quickly one sobers up! I was soon in “combats”, bag packed and Anne dropped me off at SHQ and I reported to the CO’s Office. A coach had already left with the CO, most of the Unit Firemen and MOD Police and the Station Chaplain Reverend Doug Tankard. I was to lead a second team to provide logistical support from the depot’s stocks.

On the dual carriageway north of Gretna, we were confronted by lorries and cars pulled to the slow lane as we joined the convoy of blue flashing lights, breaking the speed limit up the fast lane with the radio pumping out news flashes. Soon we reached the head of the queue of stationary vehicles and came across the orange glow of the fire ahead of us as we turned into Lockerbie.

What went on from that point is now well known and documented.

As the RAF Logistics Support Officer it was my team’s job to find out what was required by the rescuers and local businesses and, if we knew items were available from 14 MU RAF Carlisle to call for them to be delivered.

As the rescue coordination centre took shape, the need for onsite helicopter refuelling was arranged with further fuel available from the helipad at RAF Carlisle and Carlisle Airport. Commodities such as sealable bags for human remains, face masks, gloves, labels, string, barrier tape, replacement radio batteries . . . the list grew through the night with deliveries arriving by helicopter by day break.

Various reports arrived from rescue teams in the town and out in the countryside indicating that there were no signs of life. Police and the Services prepared their plans and at dawn the briefing was given. All the helicopters had been refuelled and the full search began. Sometime later on the 22nd December, I was relieved and returned home, my role over for the time being. After a couple of hours wash and brush up, I returned to work to make out my report to the CO.

Somewhere in the conversation, I heard that the Catholic Priest in Lockerbie was reported as missing and that perhaps, as a Catholic myself and a member of the Knights of St Columba, I might be concerned. Father Pat Keegan lived at 1 Sherwood Crescent. After more than another 24 hours, I heard that Father Keegan was safe – thank God.

Many people can tell you where they were when President Kennedy was assassinated or when Elvis Presley died. I have my own landmark event to relate to.. "What were you doing between 7.15pm and 7.20pm on 21st December 1988 when the jumbo jet exploded in mid-air and fell on Lockerbie?” My answer is indelibly printed on my brain: I was filling in time, a little worse for wear, standing in the organ loft at Our Lady and St Joseph’s and accompanied by organist John Routledge singing my “Christmas Party Piece” at a Carol Concert. That party piece? Adam Adolphe’s “O Holy Night”.