Tributes to Wells rig worker

Tributes have been paid to the oil rig worker from Wells who died in last week's helicopter tragedy off the Scottish coast.

Nolan Goble, 34, was among 16 people who perished when the Super Puma aircraft crashed into the North Sea while returning from a BP drilling platform off Aberdeenshire last Wednesday.

Mr Goble, who was raised in Wells but lived in Norwich, was one of four brothers including former Norwich City footballer Steve Goble.

A book of condolence was opened yesterday in the remembrance chapel at St Peter Mancroft Church in Norwich for friends and families to record their thoughts and messages.

But many had already spoken of their sadness at the loss of their warm and generous friend.

Matthew Nixon, 33, manager of a marketing company in Berkshire, said Mr Goble was “one of his best friends” who would contact him daily on the internet.

“He was a fantastic guy, you couldn't ask for a better friend,” he said. “He would give you the last pound in his pocket. He was the sort of person who you could call in an emergency and he would help you.

“I cannot get my head around what's happened.”

Another friend, Vanessa Harrison, said: “Nolan was a beautiful person inside and out and will always be remembered as the happy, warm and friendly guy who lit up any room when he walked in.”

Wells councillor Joyce Trett said: “It is just terrible when you have got a family of four boys as close as they were. They grew up with my children.

“I cannot imagine how difficult it is for the family, it is a horrendous loss of such a young life.”

Mr Goble's body was recovered after police divers found the wreckage of the helicopter on the sea bed on Sunday.

The aircraft's black box recorder was taken to the Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) headquarters in Farnborough as specialists attempted to establish the cause of the crash.

The remembrance chapel at St Peter Mancroft Church is open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.