Warrington remembers the tragic bombings of 1993

The Mayor lays a wreath

TWENTY four years on and on a cold drizzly day, more than 100 people gathered in Bridge Street, Warrington today to remember the tragedy that was the IRA bombings of 1993.
It was only a short commemoration, led by the Rev Stephen Kingsnorth. It was only an informal occasion – not like the more formal event that will take place 12 months from now to mark a quarter of a century since the tragic deaths of Tim Parry, 12 and Johnathan Ball, three.
But it was all the more moving for that. A clear sign that the years have not made the people of Warrington forget what happened in Bridge Street that fateful day.
Colin Parry spoke briefly about the years that have passed since his son died and of the work that the Foundation for Peace – or the Peace Centre, as Warrington people know it – has carried out locally, nationally and globally.
The Mayor, Cllr Faisal Rashid, added his tribute and then Wendy Parry took the tear-shaped bottle that forms a part of every commemoration of the tragedy, and filled it with water from the River of Life to be taken to Great Sankey to water the 14-year-old Peace Tree planted near to the Peace Centre.
Then the people – many of them among those most closely affected by the tragedy – queued to lay flowers at the memorial.
Among those present was the leader of Warrington Borough Council, Cllr Terry O’Neill and the former deputy leader, Cllr Mike Hannon, who was closely involved in the creation of the River of Life and other town centre art works which stand as a permanent reminder of the bombings.
The whole ceremony was held against the background and noise of the Bridge Street quarter redevelopment scheme.
The explosion in March 1993 killed three-year-old Johnathan Ball and 12-year-old Tim Parry, led to the death of Bronwen Vickers, injured 54 others and affected many thousands of people.
Today was further proof, if it were needed, that it will never be forgotten in Warrington.