Moderator attends national service to mark 50th anniversary of Glasgow fire tragedy

The Moderator of the General Assembly is today attending a national memorial service at Glasgow Cathedral to mark the 50th anniversary of a blaze that claimed seven firefighters' lives.

Rt Rev Dr Iain Greenshields will pay his respects to the memory of the brave men who were attending a serious incident in a warehouse on Kilbirnie Street on the south side of the city on the 25th of August, 1972.

A firefighter of the Glasgow Fire Service became trapped and six of his colleagues entered the property to rescue him.

A massive flashover of extreme heat overtook them while they were evacuating the property resulting in their deaths.

They were Divisional Officer Andrew P. Quinn, Leading Fireman Alastair Crofts, Fireman William McL. Hooper, Fireman Duncan A. McMillan, Fireman Allan Finlay, Fireman Iain R. Bermingham, and Fireman James W. Rook.

The service begins at 11am and is expected to be attended by families, friends and colleagues of the dead firefighters along with representatives from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and religious and political leaders.

Love of God

Dr Greenshields will join a procession of dignitaries into Glasgow Cathedral along with the leaders of other religious denominations where they will be greeted by cathedral minister, Rev Mark Johnstone.

Ross Haggart, interim Chief Officer of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, will make some opening remarks, there will be a reflection on what happened that fateful day and Bible readings will be given by the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf, (Ecclesiastes 12:1-5)and the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Jacqueline McLaren, (Psalm 121)

Dr Greenshields will read Romans 8:38-39 which says "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

"Amen."

The service will include a roll of honour call, a minute silence and Most Rev William Nolan, the Archbishop of Glasgow, will lead the congregation in prayer.

Rev Gordon Armstrong, a Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Chaplain and Kirk minister, will deliver a sermon.

Mr Johnstone said: "Care and pastoral care is central in the life of the Church.

"At a time when people are fearful and grief-stricken about the financial challenges they may encounter this winter, it is important to support all who grieve.

"This service marks the loss of human life in the service of others.

"Although not healing the wounds we may comfort the bereaved and show we are a community who continues to value the sacrifice of others for the greater good."

Memorial

The tragedy 50 years ago shocked the people of Glasgow and people lined the streets to pay their respects as hearses and firefighters travelled to Glasgow Cathedral for the funeral service.

The bodies of six of the seven firefighters were then taken to the city's Necropolis where they were interred in the vault under the Cheapside Street memorial, which was erected in memory of 14 men who died while tackling a fire at a whisky storage warehouse in 1960.

The service at Glasgow Cathedral today followed a ceremony to rededicate a memorial to the firefighters at the Necropolis and a civic reception will be held at Glasgow City Chambers at midday.