A service takes place to remember victims of the Herald of Free Enterprise on the exact 30th anniversary of the tragedy.

The names of all 193 victims who perished will be read out.

It takes place at St Mary’s Church in Cannon Street, Dover, from 11am next Monday.

Speakers will include the Rt Rev Bishop James Jones, former Bishop of Liverpool, who will give an address.

There will also be an act of remembrance by Sandra Welch, deputy chief executive of the event’s organisers, the Sailors’ Society.

There will also be a two minutes’ silence, the recital of the Lord’s Prayer and the singing of hymns such as Eternal Father, Strong to Save plus Amazing Grace and Abide with Me.

Scroll down for poll

The Rev John Walker, who is will be welcoming people in to the church, said: “It’s unimaginable to me what people went through 30 years ago when the disaster happened and what they must have suffered, not only the families but Dover as a town. I have nothing to compare it to. All I can do is stand with people and provide a place for them to come to grieve and mourn.”

It follows a service at Zeebrugge the day before.

Organised by the Feest Comite Zeebruge Herald of Free Enterprise Organising Committee, it will be held at St Donaaf Church at 10am.

It has publicised the service to survivors, families and crew through the Sailor’s Society.

A documental drama retelling the story of the Zeebrugge tragedy was broadcast last Saturday .

Herald of Disaster, on BBC Radio 4, mixed evidence given at the subsequent public inquiry with the story of a fictional family of day trippers.

Key members of the ship’s crew, other ferry company staff and rescue workers were also depicted.

The 90-minute programme largely confined itself to evidence documented by the Sheen Inquiry but used the family to give some sense of the terrible experience of the many passengers, without focusing on real individuals.

Director Toby Swift said: “It is the intention of the drama to give listeners a proper understanding of what happened with the hope that every effort continues to be made in the future to prevent such a tragedy happening again.

“It will also be an opportunity to remember those who lost their lives.”

See our six page special on the Herald disaster in this week's Mercury newspaper.