Thought For The Day – Thursday 24^th April 2025

Last Tuesday marked the 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough Tragedy of April 15th 1989.

97 people died at the F.A. Cup men’s semi-final football match at Hillsborough on this date.

Many more were affected thereafter.

Football supporters, young and old, went to a match and never returned home.

Two teenage sisters from Hertfordshire,  Sarah and Victoria Hicks, devoted Liverpool supporters, passed away from this life at Hillsborough that day.

In the late afternoon of 15th April 1989, the greatly respected BBC radio commentator Peter Jones, who would pass away from this life himself a year after,  and suffered trauma after the disaster, gave this report from the ground: https://youtu.be/wnAOam5oFvQ?si=38YQ5ZxRW673OCYJ

The first photograph above, from the scene of the Hillsborough Tragedy on the day,  that featured in (student) football magazines at the time,  is of Dave Roland, a survivor of Hillsborough.  Dave Roland helped, comforted and was with a dying 17-year-old, Henry,  on the field that day.   Dave contacted Henry’s parents and attended his funeral.  Dave, an ardent lover of music, including the work of David Bowie,  and football, would go on to look after, and positively help, many people in Liverpool in his life, leaving an inspirational legacy of love, leadership and outstanding citizenship. Mr. Roland passed away in April of 2020, five years ago, at the beginning of the pandemic, from Coronavirus.

Since the Hillsborough Tragedy, beyond words to truly describe, families of the victims have inspirationally campaigned for “Truth and Justice”.

Bishop James Jones K.B.E., the now former Bishop of Liverpool, who supported the bereaved in their campaign,  and other people in their challenges, and still, spoke in a T.B.S.H.S.’ Sixth Form Citizenship session in November 2024.

Bishop Jones, a person of the greatest integrity, gave an inspirational and thoughtful presentation.  He talked of moving moments in his Christian ministry.  He talked of  “grief as a journey without destination” and of there being “no closure to Love.” His very important message to us was:

“In all your dealings, be fair and in so doing make the world a fairer place…in Jesus’ name.”

Bishop Jones has, with humility, justice and mercy, lived out these words.

The short first clip below is an extract from Bishop Jones’ “Radio 4” programme about Holy Saturday, “The Day When God Is Dead”, the day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday, which features an interview with Margaret Aspinall. Margaret’s son, James, 18 years-of-age, passed away from this life at Hillsborough: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0fdx1sl

Last week,  Margaret Aspinall, gave this very moving interview.  She still says “Good night” every evening to James: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwZ89o19GKA

Margaret Aspinall and Bishop Jones are amongst many campaigning for a “Hillsborough Law” to ensure public orgnisations tell the truth about disasters and in so doing to honour, respect and support victims, their families and the future.

Our thoughts are always with those who suffer.

“You’ll Never Walk Alone”, initially from the musical “Carousel”, and then the band “Gerry and Pacemakers”,  was the Liverpool anthem three decades before Hillsborough.

After the Hillsborough Disaster, and since, the message of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” has taken such added emotion, meaning, poignancy and truth.

It can apply to all in making the world a better, and fairer, place in the journey through life

And beyond.

“You’ll Never Walk Alone”.