Remembrance Service To Pay Tribute To Ashfield Firefighters

On Saturday 2 November, a remembrance service was held at Ashfield Fire Station, to remember the firefighters who sadly lost their lives in the Manchester Blitz in 1940.

The event was organised in collaboration with the ATTFE College as part of our work within the local community to keep them safe.

This partnership started earlier this year, and firefighters have worked alongside the college on many different projects, including this one – the biggest remembrance event ever held by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, and one of the biggest displays across the county.

The display at the station on Sutton Road, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, features around 165 remembrance tommies made by the learners at the ATTFE College, as well as over 3,000 knitted poppies, which were all donated by members of the public. Even though this is a project which has the Ashfield community right at its heart, poppies were also donated from across the country, and for this, we are extremely grateful.

The event, which followed a local service at St Mary's Cenotaph in Sutton-in-Ashfield, welcomed the Chief Fire Officer and the Lord-Lieutenant of Nottinghamshire, as well as the fire service chaplain, learners and staff from the college, and people from the local community.

The service paid tribute to the three firefighters who sadly died in the Manchester Blitz in 1940, as well as three others who were seriously injured from the attack – guests also included friends and family from those we sadly lost. A plaque was designed and created by Ashfield District Council, and unveiled during the service by local historian, David Needham, which is now placed proudly at the front of the fire station.

After the official ceremony, attendees watched a demonstration from the National Fire Service, which re-enacted traditional firefighting scenes.

It was an amazing day, and the first of many for our fire Service.

You can watch the below video to see more from the event.