https://audioboom.com/posts/5820467...aton-on-owning-the-truth-of-april-15-1989?t=0
Superb pod with an absolutely exceptional man. Without whom, as much as anyone, we wouldn't be at the point we are today. Fully befitting hour 20 of ANY football fans time.
8 years ago, after the momentous 20th memorial at the ground, a few of had finally had enough of all the people there for the WRONG reasons. People cheering and taking photies when the players and staff came out. People treating it like a 'day out' and a chance to go to Anfield. Certain prominent family members using the occasion as a personal soapbox to preach on things that are far from solely personal to themselves. Meeting back the pub after continually full of anger to add to the emotions that are at their rawest the 15th even now at everything we'd yet again witnessed. As hard as the club tried, it had turned into a circus sideshow in many respects. So we made the decision to do our own thing. To get back to being what the 15th should be all about. Respectful remembrance of friends needlessly taken. Shared with friends you'd sadly shared the darkest of depths with who understood what you were feeling without having to say anything as they were feeling the exact same. So we got in touch with the Clergy, who have been excessively accommodating in affording us the use of a church to do our thing. And started using St Nicks in town. Which I've always felt is the spiritual home of the City with it's position looking out over the Mersey near the Pier Head. We didn't know what we were doing that first time. Just that it felt right for us to be together, and have a short service with the reading of all the names, and a moment's reflection at 3:06 PM. Which brings me back to the above pod. A good friend, Kevin Sansom (who has a wonderful book among many he's penned, 'Hillsborough Voices', a collection of accounts done in a beautifully respectful and moving way I'd highly recommend); knew Professor Scraton through the fight over the years. And he sent over a hand written piece for Sammo to read out being very regretful he couldn't attend as he would be at the Anfield service. Just perfect, heartfelt words that perfectly tied that first service of ours together and definitively reaffirmed we were doing the right thing for ourselves.
A truly great, GREAT man who whilst he'd never wish to be thought of in these terms the debt of gratitude you feel toward him can't be stressed enough.
We haven't got the use of St Nicholas' with today being Easter Saturday. So we'll join with the HJC. Their service is short and respectful with a few well-chosen words and the reading of the names. The closest to what we've taken to doing that just fits right to remember. Hopefully at 3:06 when my City falls silent, as always seems to uncannily happen on this day, those prophetic radio words from the late, great Peter Jones 28 years ago closing down the BBC radio coverage will be pertinent again ..... ' ..... and the sun shines now.'
Hardest day of every year. God rest.
Everton