A Moment of Stillness in Bicester

5/24/20251 min read

Yesterday evening in Garth Park, I joined local residents, uniformed services, community groups and civic leaders for a quiet gathering to remember Jennie Logan, Martyn Sadler and Dave Chester—three lives lost in the recent fire at Bicester Motion.

It was not a formal service, but a community coming together—simple, sincere, and respectful.

Reverend Peter Wright offered a short reflection on the shock felt across the town and the strength people find in shared moments like this. Then, as the clock struck seven, we stood in silence for three minutes—one for each of those we had come to remember.

The park was completely still. The sound of birdsong, a light breeze in the trees, and the faint hum of traffic beyond its boundaries stood in contrast to the quiet within.

After the silence, a brief prayer was offered. Stillness lingered. Then, as people began to move, a round of applause broke out—spontaneous and sustained. It marked the end of the gathering and a shared recognition of lives lived with courage, service, and community at their heart.