My thoughts go out to John's family and those who are injured in this time of great sadness. I never knew John, but from what I have heard i believe him to be a true and honest man.

When i am called to duty,God
Wherever flames may rage
Give me the strength to save some life,
Wherever be its age.
Help me embrace a little child before it is to late;
Or save an older person from the horror of that fate.
Enable me to be alert,
And hear the weakest shout,
And quickly and efficiently
To put the fire out.
I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me;
To guard my every neighbour
and protect his property.
And if according to your will i have to give my life;
Please bless with your protecting hand
My children and my wife.

God Bless John.

Brothers and Sisters

I would like to take this opportunity to pass on the thoughts and prayers of Welsh Region Fire Brigades Union to John's family and his colleagues at this difficult time.

The Last Alarm

My father was fireman.

He drove a big red truck and when he'd go to work each day

he'd say, "Mother wish me luck."

Then Dad would not come home again

'till sometime the next day.

But the thing that bothered me the most

was the thing's some folks would say,

"A fireman's life is easy,

he eats and sleeps and plays,

and sometimes he wont fight a fire

for days and days."

When I first heard these words

I was to young to understand

but I knew when people had trouble

Dad was there to lend a hand.

then my father went to work one day

and kissed us all goodbye

but little did we realize

that night we all would cry.

My father lost his life that night

when the floor gave way below

and I'd wondered why he'd risk his life

for someone he did not know.

But now I truly realize

The greatest gift a man can give

is to lay his life upon the line

So that someone else might live.

So as we go from day to day

and we pray to God above

Say a prayer for your local fireman.

He may save the one's you love.

Sadly, once again we are reading about the tragic death of another Firefighter.

My heartfelt condolences are with the Family, Friends and Colleagues of John and I wish the injured Firefighters a very speedy recovery.

Not many words can appropriately outline the true sympathy that the Great British public feels for your untimely loss as a Fire and Rescue Service.
Rest in peace heroic soul; in your one life and 20 years service you made a difference to scores of others.