New tribute to M62 bomb victims

Dec 29 2008 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A NEW memorial is to be built as a tribute to 12 people who were horrifically murdered in 1974 when the IRA blew up a coach carrying servicemen and their families on the M62 near Huddersfield.

A small plaque has commemorated the atrocity at Hartshead Moor services, close to where the atrocity took place, but bosses have now agreed to erect a larger memorial away from the bustling foyer and stage a poignant ceremony on the 35th anniversary of the attack.

A large stone that will form the centrepiece of the new memorial has arrived and a plaque will be mounted on it in the coming months.

A commemorative tree will also be planted courtesy of the Life for a Life charity.

Families of some of the victims – which included eight serving soldiers and four civilians – will attend the ceremony on the morning of February 4 next year.

Andy Jagger, site manager for Hartshead Moor services, said: “My primary objective was to stop the original plaque being in conflict with the business because the foyer area is usually very busy, and it’s not an ideal location for people to pay their respects.

“We have worked with the families throughout the process and we have come up with something that's better for all parties, which is a beefed-up memorial in a nice grassed area.”