25/01/2008

Blaze Death Firefighters Remembered

Warwickshire firefighters have attended a special memorial service to remember colleagues killed in a warehouse blaze last year.

Ashley Stephens, 20, John Averis, 27, Darren Yates-Badley, 24, and Ian Reid, 44, died as the result of the fire in Atherstone-on-Stour on 2 November.

About 1,400 people attended the service at Coventry Cathedral.

The service was conducted by the cathedral's Canon Adrian Daffern and Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service's chaplain Canon David Capron.

It began with a procession bearing the standards of every fire and rescue service in the UK.

As the flag-bearers and clergy walked through the packed cathedral, the congregation sang Onward Christian Soldiers, a hymn chosen by the family of Ashley Stephens.

Hymns for the service were also chosen by the other bereaved families.

(BMcC)

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