Calendar & Updates

New Chaplain Announced

28-Aug-2023

The UK Oil & Gas Chaplaincy Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of the Reverend Michael Mair as Chaplain to the UK offshore energies industry.

Taking up his new role on October 16, Reverend Michael Mair said:  “I am excited to be taking up this new appointment. The industry is facing challenges on several fronts, and I am looking forward to standing with and beside people as we think about the future. The Chaplain is there for everyone who works in the industry – for those of all faiths and none – and it will be my privilege to join this community to mark the highs and lows of life. I look forward to meeting those who work in the industry, whether offshore or onshore. My door will always be open.”

Most recently Michael was a parish minister to St. David’s Broomhouse Church in Edinburgh. Alongside this parish work he is a Reservist Chaplain to the British Army and is currently attached to 32 Signal Regiment. He has also held chaplaincy posts at Napier University and the Royal Blind School. A Church of Scotland minister, Michael holds national roles in the Kirk as the convener of the Assembly Business Committee.

Reverend Mair trained for ministry at the University of Edinburgh and undertook placements in Edinburgh, Inverness, Shetland, Amsterdam and South Queensferry. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Divinity and a Master of Theology degree from the University of Edinburgh. He is married to Laura, a lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, and they have two children.

Dr Alix Thom, chair of the UK Oil and Gas Chaplaincy said:

“The Trustees of the UK Oil & Gas Chaplaincy Trust are delighted to have appointed Michael to the post of Chaplain to the Industry.  His varied experience, energy and enthusiasm will bring a huge amount to the role, and to the oil and gas workforce that the Chaplaincy supports.  Our outgoing Chaplain, Reverend Gordon Craig, has made an enduring impact on the industry and the Trustees are confident Reverend Mair will build on his legacy.’

Annual Service of Remembrance 4th Nov

11-Aug-2023

The Chaplaincy is pleased to announce that the Annual Service of Remembrance will be held in the Kirk of St Nicholas at 1100 on Sat 4^th Nov. Although the church is currently closed it is still available for use by organisations who wish to use it.

Books of Remembrance

11-Aug-2023

As the Kirk of St Nicholas is currently closed we have removed the Books of Remembrance for the time being but should anyone wish to view them please contact us.

Piper Alpha Book of Remembrance. When removing the Piper A Book of Remembrance we noticed the glue binding the pages was beginning to deteriorate. Therefore it was felt appropriate that on this 35^th anniversary the book should be sent to a specialist restorer for some TLC to maintain the book for future generations.

Piper Alpha - 35

23-May-2023

Pound for Piper Memorial Trust (PFP) would like to announce that this years service of remembrance will be held in the North Sea Memorial Rose Gardens at the Piper Alpha Memorial, located in Aberdeen, Hazelhead Park on Thursday 6th July 2023, commencing at 1pm.

The service will be conducted by Gordon Craig (Oil Chaplain), with Calum McIlroy, an accomplished musician providing music composed especially for the service. There will also be a traditional piper.

The service will take the following format – Introduction, Prayer & Act of Remembrance ,Reading of the names of 167 Souls, One Minute Silence, Laying of Wreaths/Flowers, Commemoration, Thank You and Close, Refreshments will be served at Park Cafe.

RECORDING/VIDEO OF SERVICE
Roy Stewart of RS Films will be recording the service which will then be available to view via a link placed on the PFP Facebook Page & PFP Website later in the day/evening time.
PLEASE NOTE THIS WILL NOT BE A LIVE BROADCAST.

REFRESHMENTS
As we have done in past years we will once again be providing refreshments at The Park Cafe, in a private room, for all those paying their respects . PFP are here for all those deeply impacted by the events of July 6th 1988 and you will be foremost in our thoughts and prayers.
Lest We Forget – 167 Souls

Chaplaincy's Office Move

14-Feb-2023

The Chaplaincy is moving office on 22nd Feb 2023. Shell graciously host us within the company's office complex and we are moving, with the compamy, to Union St Aberdeen to a new office facility in the centre of the city. We look forward to continuing to serve the Energy Industry from our new location.

Video of Annual Service of Remembrance

06-Nov-2022

https://vimeo.com/767650832

Families gathered on 5th Nov for the Annual Service of Remembrance

Annual Service of Remembrance

07-Oct-2022

The Annual Service of Remembrance to commemorate those who have died working in the Oil and Gas Industry will take place on Saturday 5^th November at 1100.  The service will be held in St Nicholas Kirk on Union St. The Book of Remembrance containing the names of those who have died offshore will be present and the families of those who have lost a loved one in the last year are invited to light a candle in their memory.

The service will be accompanied by the Bon Accord Silver Band, Paul Anderson, Scottish Fiddler and a lone piper.

Reflections on Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

12-Sep-2022

The death of Queen Elizabeth has had a profound effect on the country. She has been a solid presence, a constant in the life of every adult in the land.  Consequently there are many who feel a sense of loss over her death and a desire to mark her passing. The Chaplain has therefore put together a short reflection, recorded in the Oil Chapel,  which can be accessed here.  https://vimeo.com/748818989

2021 Act of Remembrance

06-Nov-2021

The link below will take you to the Annual Act of Remembrance for those who have died offshore in the UK Oil and Gas Industry. This year, for the first time, there have been no additional names added to the Book of Remembrance but a lighted candle represents all who never returned to their loved ones. This includes the 45 men who died on this day in 1986 when the Chinook helicopter came down off Shetland while returning from the Brent Field.

Conscious that many families throughout the land have suffered the shattering effects of bereavement we have also lit candles representing those losses. We invite you to use this simple Act of Remembrance to remember someone close to you no longer with us.

https://vimeo.com/638371108

Oil and Gas Industry Annual Service of Remembrance

18-Oct-2021

We are delighted to announce that this year, for the very first time, there have been no names added to the Book of Remembrance recording the details of those who die offshore. 
However we have to regretfully announce that the UK Oil and Gas Industry’s Annual Service of Remembrance will be a virtual service this year, available online on Saturday, 6th of November. At the stage of discussing and planning the service it was doubtful if we would be able to hold such a gathering due to government restrictions on congregational gatherings. Churches are open in Scotland, however, there are still restrictions including social distancing and mask wearing. Numbers would have to be limited and track and trace operated. As well as the restrictions already mentioned, most importantly, we would not want to exclude anyone from our annual service. With the agreement of the Trustees, and with a heavy heart, we took the decision not to hold a service in the church

Piper Alpha - Act of Remembrance 2021

06-Jul-2021

An Act of Remembrance, organised by the Pound for Piper Trust took place at 1000 on 6th July 21. The Chaplain was honoured to conduct this  service which remembered the 167 men who lost their lives on 6th July 1988. A video of the service can be found here. https://vimeo.com/570842125

For more details please access the Pound for Piper Facebook page.  https://www.facebook.com/PoundforPiper/

Act of Remembrance - Johnston Gardens

01-Apr-2021

On the 1st of April 2009 a Super Puma helicopter came down around 11 miles from Peterhead while returning from BP’s Miller Production Platform. Sixteen people died. On the same day, in a separate incident a crewman of DSV Wellservicer also died. An act of remembrance filmed in Johnston Gardens, Aberdeen can be accessed via the link below from 1000 on 1 April. 

https://vimeo.com/529942360

Piper Alpha 25th Anniversary Commemoration - Video

06-Jul-2013

Please follow this link to watch the video http://vimeo.com/69827641.