Fire crews and mourners line streets to honour fallen firefighter Martyn Sadler
Mr Sadler's coffin, draped in the Union flag, was carried atop an aerial ladder platform fire engine through the streets of Bicester in Oxfordshire.
Hundreds of people gathered along the route in respectful silence while uniformed firefighters marched behind the coffin.
The funeral cortege passes Bicester Fire Station (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Mr Sadler was killed in a fire at the Bicester Motion site on May 15, alongside fellow firefighter Jennie Logan, 30, and local businessman Dave Chester, 57.
The cortege paused outside Bicester fire station at 11am, where firefighters stood to attention for a minute's silence.
It then travelled to the nearby St Edburg's Church where a private service took place.
As Mr Sadler's coffin was carried into the church, standard bearers from across the national fire sector lined a route outside.
Rob MacDougall, chief fire officer of the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, told mourners that Mr Sadler had just completed 20 years' service when he died, having joined as a cadet aged 14.
The passion you showed towards your career, the passion and love you showed towards your family, your friends and all your colleagues will never be forgotten Mr Sadler's father Duncan
His first full-time post was with Berkshire Fire Service before joining the London Fire Brigade in 2022, and he was also a retained fire fighter with the Oxfordshire service.
'Martyn's connection to the fire service, particularly in Oxfordshire, is deeply rooted in his family,' Mr MacDougall said.
'Firefighting was truly in Martyn's blood.
'Martyn's passing has sent ripples far beyond Oxfordshire, and the heartbreak is felt by colleagues across the London Fire Brigade, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and emergency services across the country.
'Martyn's kindness will guide us and inspire us all. His courage, and selflessness of helping others will never be forgotten.
'Let's find comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on through all of us here today.'
His voice cracking with emotion, he added: 'Let's remember his smile, his laughter, and the joy he brought to all of us.'
The coffin of the firefighter is carried into St Edburg's Church in Bicester (Rod Minchin/PA)
Mourners sang the hymns Jerusalem, Abide With Me and Amazing Grace during the hour-long service, which was led by Revd Peter Wright.
Mr Sadler's father, Duncan, told mourners: 'Martyn, as your mum and dad, you made us so proud.
'You achieved everything you set out to achieve in your young life and right through to the end.
'The passion you showed towards your career, the passion and love you showed towards your family, your friends and all your colleagues will never be forgotten.
'As a family we miss him every day and he has left a huge hole in our lives, but we are incredibly proud of all that he achieved.'
Mr Sadler's younger sister Kelly told the congregation: 'Martyn, my heart broke into a million pieces that night in May and I am not sure I will ever come to terms with never seeing you again or hearing you shout, 'All right little sis?' as you walk into a room.
'For 20-odd years you ran towards danger when most of us would run away and although I am a little bit mad at you for doing it that night when you weren't even on call, I know that you wouldn't have had it any other way.
'I will make sure that Myla and Bradley never stop waving at 'Uncle Martyn's nee naws' and that we all try to take a leaf out of your book and have the courage to be brave, to have the biggest smile whilst doing so, and to never stop achieving our dreams, just like you did.'
The congregation also listened to Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, which reflected Mr Sadler's love of rugby and his links with Bicester RFC.
At the end of his service Mr Sadler's coffin was carried out of the church to the song Hero, sung by Mariah Carey.
Ten fire crews were called to tackle the blaze, and thick black smoke could be seen rising into the sky.
Martyn Sadler died in a blaze in May (Thames Valley Police/PA)
Two other firefighters sustained serious injuries in the blaze and have been released from hospital.
Thames Valley Police said post-mortem examinations suggested the three victims sustained injuries 'typically caused by the collapse of part of a structure'.
An investigation by the force's major crime unit is ongoing, alongside inquiries by the Health and Safety Executive and fire investigators.
An inquest has been adjourned until November 25.
Firefighters place their helmets on the ground as a mark of respect (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Tributes poured in after the tragedy, with Mr Sadler's family saying he was 'born to be a firefighter'.
'Coming from a strong, fire service family it was always in his blood, but it was significantly more than that with him, it was his life,' they added.
Books of condolence were opened across Bicester in the days following the fire, and two gold plaques were placed at the scene of the blaze, signed: 'Love from the Bicester community.'
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The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
‘A cipher for crazy self-projection': why are architects so obsessed with Solomon's Temple?
No legendary building has ever inspired more conjecture about what it might have looked like than Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. It is said to have been built in c.950BC, on the mound where God created Adam, and was destroyed 400 years later by marauding Babylonians. But, beyond some inconsistent descriptions in the Bible written centuries after the temple was razed, there is no archaeological evidence that this palatial edifice ever existed. And yet, for more than two millennia, generations of architects, archaeologists and ideologues have bickered over the building's appearance. They have debated its exact height and width, speculated on the design of its columns, and battled over the precise nature of its porch. The mythic building, also known as the First Temple, has inspired everything from a Renaissance royal palace in Spain to a recent megachurch in Brazil, to the interiors of masonic lodges around the world – all built on a fantasy. 'It really draws out the batshit crazy,' says Argentinian artist Pablo Bronstein, standing in front of his monumental new drawings of what Solomon's Temple, and its contents, might have looked like. 'It has been used as a cipher for pretty much every crazy projection of power and self-delusion for 2,500 years. I find it totally fascinating – particularly as the whole thing is entirely fabricated.' Bronstein's work has long played with the provocative power of architectural image-making. He has poked fun at Britain's pseudo-Georgian housing and given us orgiastic depictions of hell, which he imagined as a showcase city strewn with garish monuments worthy of the most tasteless dictator. But the subject matter, location and (incidental) timing of his latest mischievous outing couldn't be more charged. Bronstein's speculative drawings of the holiest site in Judaism are now on display in Waddesdon Manor, an inflated French chateau built in Buckinghamshire in the 1890s as the weekend party pad of the Rothschilds – an immensely wealthy Jewish banking family who were instrumental in the creation of Israel. Baron Edmond de Rothschild – the French cousin of Baron Ferdinand, who built Waddesdon – financed a number of early settlements in Palestine and founded the Palestine Jewish Colonisation Association in 1924, run by his son James, who inherited the manor. When the Balfour Declaration was written in 1917, declaring the British government's support for a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine, it was addressed to Ferdinand's nephew, Walter Rothschild, an eccentric zoologist who liked to pose astride giant tortoises, ride a carriage drawn by zebras andwho was also a prominent Zionist leader. A permanent exhibition at Waddesdon, in a room preceding Bronstein's show, celebrates the Rothschilds' connection with Israel. It recounts the family's funding of the construction of the Knesset building, seat of the Israeli parliament, the Supreme Court building and, most recently, the National Library, designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron in the shape of a swooping stone ski jump. Architectural models of these trophy buildings gleam in Perspex vitrines, like the priceless antique treasures displayed elsewhere around the house. To this lavish display of patronage in the Holy Land, Bronstein's florid drawings add an imaginary additional commission. In a brazen act of architectural cosplay, the artist has inserted himself into the minds of two contestants for a fictitious version of the Prix de Rome, a prominent prize for students of architecture in 19th-century Paris, as they compete to recreate Solomon's Temple in their own image. 'I became fascinated by the construction of Jewish identity in the 19th century,' says Bronstein, who was born in Argentina, grew up in London, and describes himself as a 'diehard atheist Jew'. Several years in the making, his new work was commissioned alongside a wider research project about Jewish country houses, and it seems to have triggered a deep curiosity and scepticism in the artist about his own cultural heritage. 'As nationalisms develop in the 19th century, particularly in Germany, Judaism begins to develop its idea of a body of people that are somehow genetically connected to the ancient Middle East,' he says. 'They start to see Jerusalem not as an abstract idea, the way that Muslims look at Mecca, but as a reconstructible place of belonging, tied to a kind of orientalist architectural fantasy.' Bronstein's mesmerising drawings depict what, if taken to extremes, this fantasy might have looked like. Painstakingly drawn in pen and ink, and beautifully coloured with layers of acrylic wash (with the help of two recent architecture graduate assistants), the images are magnificently grandiose projections of that exoticised 19th-century longing. They depict two rival designs, in precisely detailed elevations, cross-sections and facade studies, for reconstructing the temple. Both are wild mashups of architectural motifs, sampling from the richly embellished catalogue of Asian antiquity, medieval and gothic revival, baroque and art deco with promiscuous relish. On one wall is a version of the temple that Bronstein describes as 'vaudeville beaux arts', its interior glowing with the gilded razzle-dazzle of a New Orleans casino. Marvel at the spiralling Solomonic columns at the entrance, sampled from Bernini's baldacchino at St Peter's in Rome, and the illusionistic domes that hover above the Ark, influenced by Alessandro Antonelli's Mole Antonelliana in Turin, which was originally conceived as a synagogue. 'It's the temple as a sort of gin palace,' says Bronstein – an architecturally virtuosic one, nonetheless. Sign up to Art Weekly Your weekly art world round-up, sketching out all the biggest stories, scandals and exhibitions after newsletter promotion On the opposite wall is a more restrained version of the temple, with interior wooden panelling that recalls the kind of synagogue you might find in Golders Green, north London – not far from where Bronstein grew up in Neasden. There are also notes of Henri Labrouste's Bibliothèque de Saint Geneviève in Paris, as well as dazzling blue lapis lazuli walls, representing the celestial realm in a medieval manner, along the lines of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, the 'arch-reconstructor of historic architecture', a caption tells us. It's a heady cocktail, made no less so by the fruity facade, which depicts the heads of Moses, David and Solomon as blue-bearded gargoyles above the entrance, and a relief of God, flanked by sphinxes. 'There's a good amount of scholarship about what a temple would have actually looked like if it was built in the 10th century BC,' says Bronstein. 'And it's got nothing to do with monotheism.' He thinks it's much more likely that, had the temple been built at the time the Bible alleges, it is highly likely that it would have been a pantheistic riot, full of different representations of the divine – as is the case with a comparable structure that has survived in Ain Dara in Syria, built in 1300BC, 'which is just full of goblins, basically.' If all this wasn't enough, Bronstein has also drawn the Ark of the Covenant – depicted as a gilded medieval reliquary casket, topped with a cushion, where God is said to have rested his feet – and the temple's menorah, imagined as a twirly rococo candelabrum, whose branches emerge from a chinoiserie-style grotto. Drawings from the Waddesdon archive in a following room help to set the project in context, and show that Bronstein's flamboyant fantasies aren't so far from what was being designed by the 19th-century architects from whom he took inspiration. Alarmingly, nor are they too far off what some people are still hoping to see built in Jerusalem. The Third Temple movement continues to campaign to rebuild the original temple on Temple Mount, one of the most contested sites on the planet – known as the Haram al-Sharif in the Muslim world, site of the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque, two of the holiest sites in Islam. We can only hope the Third Temple fanatics don't misconstrue Bronstein's drawings as a blueprint. He began these drawings long before war erupted in the region after Hamas's attack on 7 October 2023. Has Israel's merciless bombardment of Gaza altered his position? 'The work hasn't changed,' he says. 'But the war has changed my relationship to Judaism. It made me really question the fact that we all get instinctively bullied into the idea that we have a genetic, cosmic link to the Holy Land. It's genuinely a 19th-century construct and it's total rubbish.' Pablo Bronstein: The Temple of Solomon and Its Contents is at Waddeston Manor, Buckinghamshire, until 2 November
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Emotional moment firefighters down helmets as coffin of hero colleague killed in line of duty passes
The cortège paused outside the town's fire station, where crews stood for a minute's silence HATS OFF FOR HERO HATS OFF FOR HERO Emotional moment firefighters down helmets as coffin of hero colleague killed in line of duty passes FIREFIGHTERS yesterday lined the streets to honour a colleague killed tackling a deadly blaze in a hangar. They laid their yellow helmets on the ground as Martyn Sadler's ceremonial funeral procession passed by. Advertisement 7 Firefighters lay helmets at their feet to honour their colleague Credit: PA 7 The cortège passes through the streets Credit: PA 7 Uniformed firefighters march beside the firetruck carrying the coffin Credit: PA 7 Oxfordshire firefighter Martyn Sadler, 38, tragically died in a hangar blaze Credit: Facebook/Martyn Sadler The 38-year-old's coffin, draped in the Union flag, was carried on a fire engine through Bicester, Oxon. Hundreds of people watched in respectful silence while uniformed firefighters marched behind. The cortège paused outside the town's fire station, where crews stood for a minute's silence. His coffin, flanked by standard bearers from all fire services across the country, was brought into St Edburg's church for a private service. Advertisement Martyn was killed in a fire at the Bicester Motion site on May 15 alongside colleague Jennie Logan, 30, and businessman Dave Chester, 57. Ten fire crews were called to tackle the blaze in a hangar reportedly being used to store vintage buses and other vehicles. Two other firefighters sustained serious injuries in the blaze but have been discharged from hospital. Thames Valley Police said post-mortem examinations suggested the three victims were killed by part of the structure collapsing. An inquest was adjourned until November 25. Advertisement The force's major crime unit, the Health and Safety Executive and the fire service are investigating. 7 Heroic colleague Jennie Logan, 30, died while tackling the inferno Credit: Facebook/Jen Logan 7 Local Businessman David Chester, 57, also lost his life in the tragic fire Credit: Facebook/Dave Chester 7 Neighbours saw black smoke billowing above the buildings during the shocking blaze Credit: SWNS Advertisement On Tuesday, owners of the Bicester Motion business complex, set up on a former World War Two RAF bomber training station, announced that the fire-damaged Grade II-listed Hangar 79, would be demolished. Work is expected to start next week. In a tribute following his death, Martyn's family said he was born to be a firefighter. They added: 'Coming from a fire service family, it was always in his blood, but it was significantly more than that with him, it was his life.' Advertisement He worked for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service but was also part of the London Fire Brigade. A funeral procession for Jennie took place in June.
South Wales Guardian
a day ago
- South Wales Guardian
Fire crews and mourners line streets to honour fallen firefighter Martyn Sadler
The 38-year-old was given a full ceremonial fire service funeral, with mourners paying tribute to his bravery, fearlessness and dedication to Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. Mr Sadler's coffin, draped in the Union flag, was carried atop an aerial ladder platform fire engine through the streets of Bicester in Oxfordshire. Hundreds of people gathered along the route in respectful silence while uniformed firefighters marched behind the coffin. Mr Sadler was killed in a fire at the Bicester Motion site on May 15, alongside fellow firefighter Jennie Logan, 30, and local businessman Dave Chester, 57. The cortege paused outside Bicester fire station at 11am, where firefighters stood to attention for a minute's silence. It then travelled to the nearby St Edburg's Church where a private service took place. As Mr Sadler's coffin was carried into the church, standard bearers from across the national fire sector lined a route outside. Rob MacDougall, chief fire officer of the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, told mourners that Mr Sadler had just completed 20 years' service when he died, having joined as a cadet aged 14. His first full-time post was with Berkshire Fire Service before joining the London Fire Brigade in 2022, and he was also a retained fire fighter with the Oxfordshire service. 'Martyn's connection to the fire service, particularly in Oxfordshire, is deeply rooted in his family,' Mr MacDougall said. 'Firefighting was truly in Martyn's blood. 'Martyn's passing has sent ripples far beyond Oxfordshire, and the heartbreak is felt by colleagues across the London Fire Brigade, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and emergency services across the country. 'Martyn's kindness will guide us and inspire us all. His courage, and selflessness of helping others will never be forgotten. 'Let's find comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on through all of us here today.' His voice cracking with emotion, he added: 'Let's remember his smile, his laughter, and the joy he brought to all of us.' Mourners sang the hymns Jerusalem, Abide With Me and Amazing Grace during the hour-long service, which was led by Revd Peter Wright. Mr Sadler's father, Duncan, told mourners: 'Martyn, as your mum and dad, you made us so proud. 'You achieved everything you set out to achieve in your young life and right through to the end. 'The passion you showed towards your career, the passion and love you showed towards your family, your friends and all your colleagues will never be forgotten. 'As a family we miss him every day and he has left a huge hole in our lives, but we are incredibly proud of all that he achieved.' Mr Sadler's younger sister Kelly told the congregation: 'Martyn, my heart broke into a million pieces that night in May and I am not sure I will ever come to terms with never seeing you again or hearing you shout, 'All right little sis?' as you walk into a room. 'For 20-odd years you ran towards danger when most of us would run away and although I am a little bit mad at you for doing it that night when you weren't even on call, I know that you wouldn't have had it any other way. 'I will make sure that Myla and Bradley never stop waving at 'Uncle Martyn's nee naws' and that we all try to take a leaf out of your book and have the courage to be brave, to have the biggest smile whilst doing so, and to never stop achieving our dreams, just like you did.' The congregation also listened to Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, which reflected Mr Sadler's love of rugby and his links with Bicester RFC. At the end of his service Mr Sadler's coffin was carried out of the church to the song Hero, sung by Mariah Carey. Ten fire crews were called to tackle the blaze, and thick black smoke could be seen rising into the sky. Two other firefighters sustained serious injuries in the blaze and have been released from hospital. Thames Valley Police said post-mortem examinations suggested the three victims sustained injuries 'typically caused by the collapse of part of a structure'. An investigation by the force's major crime unit is ongoing, alongside inquiries by the Health and Safety Executive and fire investigators. An inquest has been adjourned until November 25. Tributes poured in after the tragedy, with Mr Sadler's family saying he was 'born to be a firefighter'. 'Coming from a strong, fire service family it was always in his blood, but it was significantly more than that with him, it was his life,' they added. Books of condolence were opened across Bicester in the days following the fire, and two gold plaques were placed at the scene of the blaze, signed: 'Love from the Bicester community.'
