Bicester fire: Services held for firefighters and father killed

Church services are being held to remember two firefighters and a 57-year-old man killed in a fire at an Oxfordshire business park, as a local reverend said “our hearts are broken”.

Firefighters Jennie Logan, 30, and Martyn Sadler, 38, died while tackling the fire at Bicester Motion on Thursday evening. David Chester, a father of two who ran a business at the site and lived in Bicester, was also killed.

The Reverend Peter Wright, Rector of Bicester, said: “We hold the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in our prayers.”

Two other firefighters who suffered serious injuries are “conscious and remain in a stable condition” in hospital, Thames Valley Police said.

The force said they were being supported by Oxfordshire County Council Fire and Rescue and specially trained officers had also been deployed from Thames Valley Police.

Services at churches including St Mary’s Church, Launton, and St Laurence’s Church, Caversfield, will take place on Sunday and will include prayers for the grieving community.

Mr Wright added: “We hope people will come together to support each other.”

People can also light candles, write a prayer card and sign a book of condolence at both St Edburg’s Church, Bicester, and St Laurence’s Church, Caversfield.

Bicester Town Council said the flags at Garth House were flying at half mast “as an expression of our sorrow and respect for those who lost their lives”.

The authority said it was “committed” to doing all it could “to support our community at this incredibly difficult time”.

“We will have a book of condolence available from Monday 9am for commemoration and St Edburg’s Church will be holding a quiet service of reflection that will take place at 7pm.”

The book will be available at Garth Park, in Launton Road, from 07:30 to 21:00 BST daily.

People can also sign the book of condolence between Monday and Thursday 09:00 to17:00 and Friday 09:00 to 16:00.

Both Ms Logan and Mr Sadler were involved with the women’s team at Bicester Rugby Union Football Club.

The club’s chair, Paul Jaggers, described Ms Logan, who joined the women’s Vixens team about three years ago, as “a dedicated and driven number 8, committed to being the best player she could be for the team”.

“She was a kind, gentle and thoughtful force to be reckoned with, who knew what the women’s game deserved.”

He said Mr Sadler had been involved with the club for more than 20 years, playing senior men’s rugby for more than 10 years before “hanging up his playing boots” to support the women’s team as first-aider.

He added he always brought “his infectious smile and energy to every game.”

The club added “We will carry their memories in our hearts into every game, training, social and everyday”.

The site of the fire, at Bicester Motion, was home to more than 50 specialist businesses, focused on classic car restoration and engineering.

It was formerly RAF Bomber Command in World War Two and became redundant in 2004.

Both firefighters worked at Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Mr Sadler was also part of the London Fire Brigade.

On Saturday a guard of honour was formed by 14 firefighters at Bicester Fire Station, to welcome back two of the fire engines sent to the scene.

Firefighters removed their helmets and stood in two lines as the fire engines drove through the entrance.

Flowers have also been left at the fire station.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has said it would be conducting a full investigation into the incident, “for now, we are grieving for our fallen colleagues and friends”.

Mr Chester, who ran family business Chesters & Sons at Bicester Motion, joined the estate when it was bought 12 years ago and was described as “part of the fabric of our estate and a friend to us all”.

“We will cherish you Dave and you will be sorely missed,” said Bicester Motion’s chairman Daniel Geoghegan.

He added the father-of-two was “a pillar of our whole business community.”

The Chesters & Sons website says its work at the former RAF base “included carefully unearthing four buried wartime air raid shelters so as not to damage the structures to allow them to be renovated by another contractor”.

Mr Geoghegan added the firefighters had showcased “the epitome of selfless service” and had “gone above and beyond under unprecedented circumstances”.

The fire, reported at about 18:30, rapidly spread through a former aircraft hangar at the site.

Fire investigators and Thames Valley Police are working to establish the cause.