September saw the annual firefighters service of remembrance at the Church of St Bartholomew the Great in London. The service was followed by a parade to the National Firefighters Memorial at the south side of St Pauls Cathedral, led by an appliance from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and a band from West Yorkshire FRS. Standards from over 30 fire and rescue services were also carried, and wreaths were laid on behalf of many more.

Relatives of many of those honoured by the memorial were in attendance at the event. The names of Alan Bannon and James Shears (Hampshire FRS, April 2010), Graham Hughes (Manchester, 2003) and Frederick Mace (Seaford, 1939) were honoured for the first time. Turnout for the event exceeded the capacity of the church, and the trustees of the Firefighters Memorial Trust were said to be pleased that interest is increasing year-on-year.

The next major event in the Firefighters Memorial Trust calendar is the annual firefighters service of thanksgiving. That will be held at the Fire Service Monument, National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire on Sunday May 8 2011. For details, visit: www.firefightersmemorial.co.uk.