Salamander Archives

The World of Firefighters

A terrible fire tragedy

Lets never forget just how dangerous our profession can be. Since our last newsletter ,we have lost firefighters James Shears, 35,

and Alan Bannon, 38, whilst tackling a blaze in Southampton at a high-rise block of flats. Both men were full-time firefighters

at St. Mary’s Station in Southampton. All the residents were rescued.

10 firefighters have died on duty in England between 1997 and the start of 2007, the worst case being in November 2007 when

four members of Warwickshire Fire Service died at a burning vegetable packing plant at Atherstone-on-Stour.

Peter Holland, vice president of the Chief Fire Officers’ Association said that the deaths in Southampton served as a tragic re-

minder that fire fighting remains a difficult and dangerous job. “Fire fighting in high-rise buildings particular challenges to fire

and rescue services who work closely with housing authorities to help them provide adequate fire precautionary measures. After

every serious incident it is imperative that lessons are learned to avoid similar tragedies in the future”.

James leaves two

young sons.

Alan leaves a young

daughter

“ Losing a colleague is something that

touches everyone and something firefight-

ers never get over”

Matt Wrack general

secretary of the Fire Brigades Union

James Shears and Alan Bannon

Annual Memorial Service

The Master, Geoff Morgan, Renter War-

den Peter Cowland and Beadle John Nor-

ris were among a number of Company

Members who attended the Firefighter’s

Memorial Charitable Trust Service of

Thanksgiving at their Monument at the

National Arboretum in Alwras, Stafford-

shire.

This annual service, which is attended by

representatives from UK Fire and

Rescue Services, fire authorities, and the wider Fire Service community,

held to honour the work which UK firefighters undertake in the protection of

the community on a daily basis.

The Band of the West Midlands Fire Service opened proceedings by march-

ing to the Monument, followed shortly by a Pipe Band, Standard Bearers and

Ceremonial Squads. The Chaplain of the Trust, the Reverend Canon Peter

Mortimer MBE, who is also a Freeman of our Company, led the Service. He

was supported by Nicholas Rutter, Secretary of the National Fire and Rescue

Chaplains Association as well as a number of fire brigade Chaplains from the

local area. Ron Singer of AJEX led the Jewish Prayers to help mark the multi-

faith role in which firefighters have always served.

Fire and natural disaster do not observe national boundaries and so this year

the Trust also recognized the international role played by firefighters. Interna-

tional Search and Rescue Teams (ISAR) from a number of UK Fire and Res-

cue Services had formed part of the urgent response to the earthquake in

Haiti, which had resulted in the deaths of some 250, 000 people. Therefore

members of the West Midlands ISAR team, some of whom had helped at the

disaster, attended the service and as a special mark of respect

„La Dessal-

inienne

,’ the National Anthem of Haiti, was played in addition to our own.

After the service floral tributes were laid whilst pipers played the lament

“Flowers of the Forest”. Coming so soon after the fire in Southampton, at

which two firefighters had tragically lost their lives, this was a particularly

poignant moment.

Next years service will be held on Sunday 8th May.

Appeal from Ian Shakespeare

running the North Run for Charity

I am a WCoFF

Liveryman, aged

60 and am partici-

pating in the Great

North Half Mara-

thon Run in Sep-

tember. My goal

is to raise money

for both CLIC and

RAFT. My wife is

a nurse and we

have both wit-

nessed the results

of people disfig-

ured by fire.

My sister’s eldest daughter was diagnosed

with cancer in the mid 90’s and CLIC

(Malcolm Sargent cancer fund for children as

they were formerly known) were absolutely

wonderful in their care for the whole family. I

always promised that one day I would try to

raise some money for them and for RAFT, one

of the WCoFF charities. Despite a dodgy knee

and ankle, I am determined to complete this

event.

May I ask for your support and sponsorship

please. As the money raised will be split 50 /

50 between the charities. My fundraising site

is: