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23:02 GMT, Sunday, 2 November 2008

Memorial for killed firefighters

Clockwise from top left: Ashley Stephens,  Darren Yates-Badley, Ian Reid, John Averis

A memorial service marking the first anniversary of a warehouse fire in which four firefighters died has taken place in Warwickshire.

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

A remembrance service was held at All Saints Church, in Leamington Spa.

Firefighters held a two-minute silence to coincide with the time the men's air tanks would have run out.

Crews across the county marked the silence at 1928 GMT.

The men's families earlier attended a private service at St Nicholas's Church in Alcester, where most of the firefighters came from.

'Touched lives'

TV presenter Carol Vorderman helped dedicate a remembrance garden for the firefighters at Stratford-upon-Avon fire station.

County fire officer William Brown said: "The events of the 2 November touched the lives not only of colleagues within the brigade, but also Warwickshire residents and beyond."

The church service, in which the West Midlands Fire Service Pipe Band took park, coincided with the All Souls Day service.

A fund set up in the memory of the four men has nearly reached £1m.

The cash raised will go towards the firefighters' families.

The Home Office has pledged £3m towards the cost of investigating the warehouse fire.



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Related to this story:
Force gets £3m towards fire probe (31 Oct 08 |  Coventry/Warwickshire )
Firefighters' fund nearly at £1m (18 Sep 08 |  Coventry/Warwickshire )
Garden memorial to four firemen (12 Jun 08 |  Coventry/Warwickshire )
Warehouse fire victims remembered (25 Jan 08 |  Coventry/Warwickshire )
Families' tribute to firefighters (07 Nov 07 |  Coventry/Warwickshire )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service
The Firefighters Charity
Atherstone-on-Stour Firefighters Appeal
Stratford-upon-Avon District Council
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