Memorial for 'much-loved' men killed in Redcar SSI blast marks year anniversary

Tommy Williams and John Mackay are believed to have been on a cherry-picker, working at height, when an explosion happened at around 2pm on September 19, 2019. 

Family members travelled to Teesside today, September 19 2020, gathering at 1.30pm to pay respects at the former steelworks site. 

Mr Mackay, 49, of Edinburgh and was a “much loved” husband, father, stepfather and grandfather. 

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Speaking a week after the incident last year, the man’s family said: “John was much loved by his wife, parents, sisters, children, step children and grandchildren and will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues.

The second man, Mr Williams, 65, of Warwickshire and father to Emma and grandfather to Jordan, Kade and Jazmin, was described by his wife Bobbie as "dearly loved". 

Paying tribute at the time, Mrs Williams said: “Tommy was a dearly loved husband, father and grandfather who will be desperately missed.” 

Both families thanked people for the support they received.  

The contract workers, one from the demolition firm John F Hunt, who are the main contractors at the site, and the other from Nationwide Platforms, which provides the cherry pickers, were removing the furniture from the outside of the tower stack at the time. 

It is believed the site was being decommissioned by contractors. 

The following day, flames could still be seen at the SSI site in South Bank, some three miles from the old Redcar blast furnace which closed nearly four years ago.