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Members’ Forum
Annual UK Firefighters Memorial Service
Sunday 12th September 2010:
Service of Remembrance & Wreath Laying at the National Memorial
The Service of Remembrance on Sunday 12th September was held
again at the Church of St Bartholomew the Great, West Smithfield,
City of London. The Master and Wardens of the Worshipful
Company of Firefighters processed into the
Church and took their places. Standards from
Brigades across the U.K, together with the
Union Flag and Standards from the Fire
Service College, National Association of
Retired Firefighters and the London Fire
Brigade, were received.
The Service was attended by the Fire Minister Bob Neill MP, Communities and
Local Government Department. He was accompanied by Sir Ken Knight, the
Government’s Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser. They both joined the
parade and went on to lay a wreath, on behalf of the Government, at
the National Firefighters Memorial.
Following the service, the parade formed up
with vintage fire and emergency vehicles,
Standards, a marching band comprising
players from the West Midlands and the Tyne
and Wear Brigades and almost the entire
congregation. The parade, from Cheapside to
the United Kingdom Firefighters National
Memorial situated near to St Paul’s Cathedral, was escorted by City of London
Police foot patrols, motor cycle outriders and mounted branch officers.
At the Memorial a short but poignant wreath laying service was held, with those
present observing a two-minute silence. The Last Post, Reveille and a Lament (by a
lone piper) were played. The names of Firefighters who sadly made the ultimate
sacrifice during the past twelve months were read out. Over fifty wreaths were
laid, not only by loved ones but also by a wide cross-section of the Fire Service
Community.
Twenty five Brigades were
represented at the ceremony which
was attended by about three hundred
and fifty people and observed by
many tourists.
The parade was dismissed after the final wreaths were laid and
many people then approached the Memorial and stood in quiet
contemplation. The Standard Bearers and Fire Service Bands
are to be congratulated for providing such a stirring input to
the whole of the Remembrance Event.