Page 72 - Archived Back Issues

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 Shears and Alan Bannon
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
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, is 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: www.virginmoneygiving.com/Ianshakespeare