Streets lined for funeral of firefighter Alan (From Bournemouth Echo)

Streets lined for funeral of firefighter Alan

8:48am Wednesday 28th April 2010 in

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Hundreds of firefighters lined the streets of Southampton yesterday in a show of respect and grief at the funeral of a colleague who died battling a blaze in a residential tower block.

Alan Bannon, 38, was killed tackling the fire at Shirley Towers, Southampton, on April 6.

The funeral cortege left St Mary's Fire Station in Southampton and passed mourners, including hundreds of off-duty firefighters, as it headed to St Mary’s Church.

The coffin, draped in the fire service standard with Mr Bannon’s firefighting helmet on top, was carried on a turntable ladder fire appliance accompanied by pallbearers.

Margaret Bannon, the mother of Mr Bannon, said the family had lost a caring father, a loving son and a dear friend who always wanted to be a firefighter.

Mr Bannon, from Southamp-ton, was married to Charlotte and was father to five-year-old Abigail.

His parents said in a statement: “Alan was always there when we needed help and support, practically or emotionally. He absolutely loved his daughter, Abi, and he did everything for her.

“He could never understand why we were proud of him especially when he became a firefighter. We have always been proud of you Alan, but you studied hard to achieve your ambition, it meant so much to you, and that’s why we’re so proud of you.”

The service was led by the chaplain of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, the Revd Dr Derek Overfield.

The service began with a traditional Scottish folk song Will Ye Go and a reading of A Time for Everything.

Other music chosen by the family included Moonlight Shadow by Mike Oldfield, Just Around the River Bend from the Walt Disney film Pocahontas and One Way by the Levellers. The Oldfield song was chosen by his widow after she heard it on the radio shortly after hearing of her husband's death.

Dr Overfield said: “Charlotte has clung to the words ‘See you in heaven one day’.”

The service, attended by family, friends and close colleagues, was followed by a private committal.

Spontaneous applause broke out among the firefighters lined up outside the church as the coffin was carried out.

Mr Bannon joined Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service in 1997 as a welder before training to fulfil his lifelong ambition to become a firefighter, which he achieved in 2001.