A MEMORIAL service is to be held for York tsunami victim Stephen Magson, it was revealed today.

York Minster will be the venue for the service, which will be held on Friday, March 18, at 2.30pm, before a public reception is held in the Nunthorpe and Dante suites at York Racecourse.

Mr Magson, 54, was killed on Boxing Day when the devastating tsunami swept in to the Thailand resort where he was staying with his family.

While both his wife, Denise, and daughter, India, survived, after being lifted by the massive wave on to the top of a building as it engulfed Phi Phi Island, Mr Magson, who was watching his wife and daughter kayaking, died.

The Magson family, from Holgate Bridge Gardens, were enjoying a holiday in the resort when the wave struck.

Hundreds of thousands of people across South East Asia were killed in the tsunami, which followed a massive earthquake in the Indian Ocean.

People who attend the reception will be able to leave donations to the Stephen Magson Memorial Trust, which is supporting tsunami relief in Thailand.

Mr Magson was managing director of Sherburn-in-Elmet removals firm Bishops GS Ltd - a post he had held since 1996. The father-of-four lived in York all his life and was a well-known and respected businessman.

Mr Magson's family carried out an exhaustive search for him following the disaster, but returned to York on New Year's Day.

At least five people from the York area, including Mr Magson, are thought to have died in the tsunami disaster.

Sarah Bent, 19, and her boyfriend, Robert Rowbottom, were thought to have been killed along with childhood friends Benjamin Watts, 29, and Nova Mills, 28, of Holme-upon-Spalding Moor.

A massive appeal launched by the Evening Press, along with City of York Council, raised tens of thousands of pounds for the disaster fund.

Worldwide, billions have been donated by the international community to help communities in stricken areas to start the rebuilding process.

Updated: 14:30 Wednesday, March 09, 2005