The father of two girls killed in the Hillsborough disaster says today’s anniversary takes place in the light of a completely different public perception of the tragedy.

Keighley businessman Trevor Hicks will attend an annual memorial service at Anfield today. It will mark 24 years since the disaster claimed the lives of 96 people, including his daughters Sarah and Victoria.

Mr Hicks, president of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, says the past 12 months has been hugely important for the families of those who died.

In September a report into the disaster was published, revealing 41 of the victims could have survived had the tragedy been dealt with better by emergency services. It also showed police reports had been altered, and there was an effort by South Yorkshire Police to blame the victims.

Three months later the High Court quashed the original inquest verdicts that said the fans died of “accidental death”.

And last month the Independent Police Complaints Commission said former West Yorkshire Chief Constable Norman Bettison could have been dismissed for his role in events following the disaster if her were still working. He was Chief Inspector of South Yorkshire Police at the time.

Speaking before the event, Mr Hicks said: “We expect quite a high turnout today. In some ways it will be business as usual. But after the reports, the public perception of Hillsborough has changed completely. The reports said what we have been saying for 23 years.”

However, he doubts there will be a triumphant feel at the event, adding: “It is still a memorial service for 96 people who died, and regardless of what has come out, nothing is going to change that they died. On that gorgeous April day in 1989, 96 people left for a football match and didn’t come home.”

The anniversary also comes a week after Baroness Thatcher died. Mr Hicks believes that any celebration of her death has been “tacky” and hopes the Hillsborough events remain respectful.

He said: “If there is any anti-Thatcher protests they will be a side show. There might be some people with a banner, but they won’t be part of the mainstream activities.

“I’m sure people will be talking about her, and I’m sure the press will be asking us about her. Personally I have mixed feelings about the Iron Lady. Some of what she did was brutal, but helped sort the country out. Do we think she was part of the problem of trying to shift blame onto us? I think she probably was, maybe not on a personal level, but it was a suitable position for her government for the fans to be blamed.

“The Premier League teams are not having a minutes silence for Mrs Thatcher, but they are for the Hillsborough victims, which I always think is a fitting tribute.

“I hope it goes off with the respect it deserves. Everyone is entitled to their opinion about Thatcher, but I think dancing on her grave is distasteful and inappropriate.”