Sussex man dies in Trade Centre disaster

THE family of Ditchling man Robert Eaton, who is among the thousands feared dead in the New York terrorist disaster, have given up all hope that he is still alive.

It is believed Robert, 37, was working on the 105th floor of the World Trade Centre tower that was the first to be struck by hijacked jets.

On Saturday his parents, Doug and Laura Eaton, travelled to St Paul s Cathedral where he was a chorister, to attend a service to remember their son and the thousands of others who perished.

They also intend to attend a memorial service for the dead in New York and are planning a small memorial service for Robert in Ditching itself.

Robert, a merchant banker for Cantor Fitzgerald, last spoke to his parents on the phone three weeks ago.

Said Mrs Eaton: I can t believe we will never see him again. We keep seeing these horrific scenes on television and it doesn t seem real.

It s terrible to think of him and all those other people desperately trying to get out.

His wife Jacqui was so distressed I could barely understand her on the phone.

On regular visits to Sussex, Robert spent weekends with his parents, often going with his father to watch the Albion football team in action.

He was very keen on football, said Mr Eaton. He once played for a local team and also played for a team in New York.

That team have been wearing black armbands in his memory.

Robert won a scholarship to St Paul s Cathedral where he studied for four years before attending Brighton College in 1977.

Special prayers were said for Robert, and others who died, during Sunday s service at St Margaret s Church, Ditchling.