The officers died when the vehicle they were travelling in overturned at Newton Hill roundabout in Wakefield in May 1978.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good afternoon everybody, my name is Paul Fixter, excuse the notes I'm not a very comfortable
00:07public speaker. So today is the 15th of May 2024 and today marks the 46th anniversary of the
00:20tragedy that occurred just behind us here. I've been helping out with the memorial
00:28and it's finally come to fruition and I'm delighted that it's come to reality.
00:40I actually used to work for West Yorkshire Police for 20 years and I recall
00:45a plaque at Bishop Garth just down the road. Bishop Garth is now demolished of course
00:51and on the 40th anniversary of the tragedy in 2018 I actually spoke to some of my neighbours
00:59and my local resident Ellen Stanley and my neighbours were not aware of the tragedy
01:07and of course we don't want it to be forgotten. I would like to invite Matthew Marley and Craig
01:19from the West Yorkshire Police Federation to lift the flag for the memory.
01:49A few words. I'm sorry if you were all expecting the Mayor but we had a clash so
02:00you've ended up with me but I do want to congratulate you for working on this.
02:07Every time I come round this roundabout I think about that day because I did witness the accident
02:14and I worked here on this site and I was walking up to my parents house and so I've never forgotten
02:23it and I think about it when I drive round so it's taken a long time but my goodness it's been
02:30worth it and it shouldn't be forgotten. It was a terrible day, a terrible tragedy. I remember the
02:36plaque at Bishop Garth that you mentioned and it's so good that all of you are here today to think
02:43about this. It was a terrible loss of young lives and careers ahead of them and to lose their lives
02:50that day was a tragedy but I do think both of you too should be congratulated for working on this
02:58and we can all come here and the families can all come here and think about the people that
03:03they lost that day. So welcome to both of you and I hope to see you again.