Eight local families were left devastated when the oil production platform exploded and sank in the North Sea on July 6, 1988.

The tragedy, the worst ever in the history of the industry, claimed 167 lives.

The men from the area who died that terrible night were Robert Richard and Jim Savage (41) from Polmont; Allan Barr (37), Carronvale Road, Larbert; William Smith (43), Nobel View, Reddingmuirhead; Robert Vernon (51), Brightons; Jim Niven (27), Grangemouth; and Michael Groves (44) and Gordon Rennie from Linlithgow.

Sunday's Service of Remembrance in the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting Church has been organised by the UK Oil and Gas Chaplaincy.
Within the grounds of the kirk is St John's Chapel, also known as the Oil Chapel. It is home to a book which records the names of all 167 who lost their lives.

The service will be led by the Rev. Andrew Jolly, chaplain to the UK Oil and Gas Industry.

Mr Jolly said: "It seems hard to believe it is almost 20 years since this tragedy which has become known simply as Piper Alpha.

''Yet, for those bereaved by this event, it possibly still seems like yesterday. The shock, sadness and pain that followed were shared by people around the world as the full realisation of what had occurred
began to settle in.

''Although I did not work in the oil and gas industry at that time, I can still remember the shock and sadness I felt as the events unfolded that night and that has not been blunted by the passage of time.

''From my experience as chaplain to this industry that seems to be true for many people."

On the eve of what will be an emotional day, one Falkirk man will have his own reasons to reflect on the events of that fateful night.
Charlie Napier worked for Occidental, the owner of the Piper Alpha rig, for 12 years.

Had he not opted to take his holidays that fortnight in July he would have been on duty in the control room when the explosion and fireball
ripped it apart.

Yesterday (Wednesday) the 71-year-old admitted: "The Falkirk Fair fortnight probably saved my life.

''Piper Alpha was a great place to work. The people on that platform were terrific and I lost a lot of very good friends as a result of the accident.

''I still think very fondly of them today, it was a terrible loss. The experts predicted something would happen in the North Sea sometime given the nature of the industry and tragically it happened on Piper Alpha."