Our Tribute to the Firefighters of New York.

This picture courtesy of Sun Newspapers

On Sunday 16th September 2001 we held our annual Pumpathon event in Glasgow, Scotland UK. After the appalling events we saw unfold on Tuesday 11th September in New York, my thoughts were to cancel the Pumpathon as a mark of respect. I contacted almost all of the participants and they were united in their response, in that rather than cancel the event, they all wanted to make the Pumpathon, a tribute to the Firefighters of New York.

The morning of Sunday 16th September was a beautiful one. George Square in Glasgow was filled with fire appliances spanning almost a century. At 11.00hrs, the Deputy Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow together with Senior Officers from Strathclyde Fire Brigade, joined Firefighters serving and retired, in a minute's silence.
A lone piper then played a lament in honour and remembrance of our colleagues in the New York Fire Department.

Attendance

• Deputy Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow - Bailie Catherine McMaster.
• Deputy Firemaster David Kennedy - Strathclyde Fire Brigade.
• Assistant Firemaster Andrew Shuttleworth - Strathclyde Fire Brigade.
  • Personnel From:
  • Strathclyde Fire Brigade.
  • Grampian Fire Brigade.
  • Central Scotland Fire Brigade
  • Edinburgh Airport Fire Service.
  • Strathclyde Fire Brigade Preservation Group.
  • Guinness UDV. Port Dundas Fire Team.
  • Strathclyde Police.

Bob Wright,
Chairman,
Strathclyde Fire Brigade Preservation Group.