Latest news with #ElizabethEmblem
Edinburgh Live
12-07-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Hero Edinburgh firefighter who died in pub blaze remembered during special service
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An emotional commemoration service has taken place 16 years after an Edinburgh firefighter lost his life in a ferocious pub blaze. Heroic Ewan Williamson sadly died in the line of duty when an inferno engulfed the basement of the Balmoral Bar on Dalry Road. Ewan was one of the first crew members on scene and tragically became trapped after entering the building. However, his bravery has never been forgotten as 16 people, including a baby, were rescued from the building. The 35-year-old was a member of the Green Watch at Tollcross Fire Station and entered the building wearing breathing apparatus before becoming trapped. The outcome of the tragic blaze may have been very different if not for the bravery of Ewan and his colleagues. A special commemoration service was held in front of St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh on Saturday. In attendance was Ewan's family, the SFRS Chief Officer, Deputy Lord Provost Lezley Marion Cameron and representatives from the Fire Brigade Union. During the service, a minute's silence was observed, followed by a wreath-laying ceremony. (Image: SFRS) Chief Officer Stevens said: 'Sixteen years ago Ewan Williamson lost his life in the line of duty. Ewan, his family, friends, colleagues and loved ones, will always remain in our thoughts. 'Ewan's ultimate sacrifice reminds us of the extraordinary lengths our firefighters go to, to protect and to serve our communities across the country. 'The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will always remember Ewan. We will continue to commemorate his life and honour his selfless dedication and bravery.' (Image: Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service/PA Wire) The Williamson family, Linda, Rachel and Rebecca said: 'Ewan's family would like to extend their thanks to Ewan's colleagues and friends at Tollcross Green Watch and the Fire Brigades Union for their support and friendship in the years following Ewan's tragic passing. His big, beautiful smile lives on in our hearts.' On July 12 2009, the alarm was raised shortly before midnight following a fire in the basement of the bar. As it spread, Ewan and his colleagues were deployed to tackle the blaze in the basement and ground floor. This enabled colleagues to work on rescuing over a dozen casualties from the flats above who were endangered by smoke and flames. On July 4, 2025, it was announced Ewan Williamson would receive an Elizabeth Emblem in recognition of his sacrifice in the line of duty. The emblem is awarded posthumously to family members of those who have died in public service. John McKenzie, Fire Brigades Union Regional Secretary for Scotland said: Ewan was a friend to all who knew him and a brilliant firefighter and comrade. He paid the ultimate sacrifice serving the public and our thoughts are with Linda, Rachel, Rebecca, Ewan's colleagues and all those that loved him. He will never be forgotten and will always be in our thoughts.' Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, Depute Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh, said: 'Today we honour Ewan's memory, his service and selfless bravery in the line of duty. 'Sixteen years ago on that fateful day, Ewan tragically lost his life in the service of others. This is public service of the most noble and selfless kind. 'Ewan's courage, sacrifice and dedication reminds us that true heroism lives not in grand gestures but in daily acts of selflessness, demonstrated daily by all those working in our emergency services facing danger with bravery and courage to keep each and all of us, and our communities, safe.'
Scotsman
10-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Honouring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us
King Charles presents Elizabeth Emblems to the next of kin of former firefighters, police officers and other public servants who died in the line of duty Last week, eight Scottish public servants who died in service were recognised with a new honour. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Elizabeth Emblem, which was established last year, is conferred by the King and is given to the next of kin of those who died while doing their duty. It's the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which was launched in 2009 and which recognises Armed Forces personnel who died in the course of operations or from an act of terrorism. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Eligible recipients include anyone who died in the course of public service and who, at the time of their death, was employed by the emergency services, the coastguard or the UK, Scottish or Welsh governments. The Emblem honours all those public servants who have given their lives for others, those people who stepped forward when most of us would step back. Among those recognised last week are police officers, firefighters and paramedics. One is Ewan Williamson, a firefighter from the Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service. In the early hours of 12 July 2009, the Balmoral Bar on Dalry Road went up in flames. Ewan and his colleagues demonstrated exceptional courage and selflessness, rescuing 16 people, including a baby. But in the course of the blaze, he became trapped in the basement and was unable to escape or be located by his fellow firefighters. He died in the line of duty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Another is Rod Moore, a retired paramedic from Falkirk who returned to work during the pandemic out of a sense of duty. Sadly, he contracted the virus and later died. Rod's case is a reminder of the enormous sacrifice made by frontline public service workers during the pandemic, when they risked their health and their lives to keep society running through a national crisis. I'm also pleased to see that the family of Gwen Mayor will receive the honour. Gwen was a primary school teacher who was killed while trying to protect her pupils during the mass shooting at Dunblane Primary School in 1996. No-one will forget the tragedy of the 16 children who lost their lives alongside their teacher. Gwen showed true courage in the face of unimaginable horror. This Monday was the 20th anniversary of the 7/7 London bombings, when countless emergency service workers ran towards danger to help others. It's another reminder of the courage, dedication and sacrifice demonstrated every hour of every day by our public service workers, who keep us all safe and keep things running while the rest of us go about our lives. We owe them all an incredible debt, and while that can never be settled, at the very least this new honour recognises those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Nobody should go to work never to return home. And by going to the next of kin, the award also recognises that the family members of those who have died have also made a sacrifice, in losing their loved one. I hope that the families of all those recognised will take some comfort in knowing that their loved ones, and their service, has not been forgotten. Ian Murray MP for Edinburgh South and Secretary of State for Scotland
BBC News
08-07-2025
- BBC News
PC Andrew Harper's mother backs honour for injured emergency workers
The mother of a police officer who was killed in the line of duty has warned that seriously-injured members of the emergency services feel "brushed aside".PC Andrew Harper from Wallingford, Oxfordshire, died in Berkshire after being dragged along the road by three teenage quad bike thieves in 2019. His mother Debbie Adlam is backing a campaign to honour those who suffer life-changing and career-ending is joining injured police and firefighters gathering at Parliament later, urging MPs to recognise their sacrifice with a specific medal. The Home Office said it was considering proposals about recognising injured emergency service Elizabeth Emblem, named after the late Queen, was introduced in 2024 and is given to the next of kin of deceased police officers, firefighters and public servants in recognition of their loved former Sussex Police officer Tom Curry said it was a "scandal" there is not similar recognition for those who were received injuries on duty that were serious enough to end their 75, he had to leave the force in1989 after suffering serious neck and back injuries while attending nightclub brawl, weeks away from being awarded his long-service is leading a campaign to recognise officers who, in many cases were injured alongside colleagues who died, but unlike their colleagues' families, received no official recognition of the impact on their lives highlighted cases including the IRA bomb at Harrods in 1983 in which three police officers were killed and a further 14 injured. "In many cases their actions were the same as those who were killed, but they've been ignored or forgotten. You feel worthless.""If I go to a Remembrance Day parade, I've got nothing to show that I was ever a copper." PC Harper, 28, died when he was dragged for more than a mile along a road by a getaway car, near Stanford Dingley in Berkshire, on 15 August had been married for just four weeks before his Adlam said she was supporting the campaign "for Andrew's colleagues"."[Injured emergency service personnel] suffered mentally and physically through their bravery and had no recognition of their sacrifice."They've left their jobs and their lives have just ceased - I'm worried about the mental state of people."Police and other emergency services is a vocation - there is a reason why these people do it, but if they feel brushed aside, it means they question a lot of things."What happened to them may be just five minutes on the news, but they have to live with it for the rest of their lives," she added. More than 30 seriously injured personnel are due to gather outside Parliament and meet MPs on Tuesday. Mr Curry said his campaign has the support of more than 270 MPs from all Home Office said: "This government recognises the courage of emergency service personnel injured in the line of duty."That is why the Policing Minister has met with stakeholders to discuss the introduction of medals and is paying close attention to the campaign."The proposals are being considered and an update will be provided in due course." You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook and X.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- BBC News
Honour for two South Yorkshire Police officers who died on duty
Two South Yorkshire Police officers who died while on duty have been recognised with the Elizabeth award, which recognises the sacrifices made by public servants who have lost their lives while on duty, will be given to the families of PC Gina Rutherford and PC Glen officer PC Rutherford, 25, died from drowning after her patrol car skidded on ice and crashed into the River Dearne in February Howe, 48, died in a fatal road traffic collision when he was responding to an emergency incident on 24 October 2008. 'Enduring debt' The Elizabeth Emblem was introduced in 2024 as a civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross. The design of the emblem includes a rosemary wreath - a symbol of remembrance - around the Tudor is inscribed with the words "For A Life Given In Service" and has the name of the person it commemorates on the reverse. Deputy Chief Constable Sarah Poolman said the award was a "fitting honour to recognise the sacrifices" of both said it served as an "an important reminder of the dangers and potential harm police officers confront every day on duty in order to keep the public safe".She added: "This national recognition is thoroughly deserved and it is the perfect way to honour their memory and their service as officers for South Yorkshire Police." South Yorkshire Police last year installed a memorial bench dedicated to PC Rutherford outside Wombwell Police Station to mark the 30th anniversary of her the same year the force also unveiled a memorial stone in honour of PC Howe near to where the fatal collision took place. Announcing the list of 106 recipients of the Elizabeth Emblem, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden said: "We owe an enduring debt to the public servants who give their lives to protect others."The Elizabeth Emblem is a reminder not just of the ultimate price their loved ones have paid in service of our communities, it is a lasting symbol of our national gratitude for their incredible sacrifice."
Scotsman
07-07-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Family of hero Edinburgh firefighter Ewan Williamson receives new award in his memory
The family of firefighter Ewan Wiliamson, who died battling a blaze in an Edinburgh pub 16 years ago, has been recognised with a new award from the King. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Elizabeth Emblem was launched just last year and is given to the families of public servants who died in performance of their duty. It is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the UK Armed Forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack. Ewan Williamson was killed while battling a blaze in the Balmoral Bar in 2009. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ewan, 35, lost his life on July 12, 2009, after he and fellow members of Green Watch at the Capital's Tollcross fire station responded to a fire at the Balmoral Bar in Dalry Road. Thanks to their bravery, they were together able to rescue 16 people, including a baby. But Ewan became trapped in the building and died despite the desperate efforts of his colleagues to rescue him. Ewan should have been on annual leave on the day of the fire, but had offered to do overtime because of staff shortages. His death shocked Edinburgh. He had had joined the service in 2003 and was the only firefighter in the history of the Lothian and Borders Fire Service to die tackling a blaze. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The official report called his death "tragic, avoidable and unacceptable". It said firefighters had been given "limited or incomplete briefings" about breathing apparatus, with crews "committed into a high risk environment, ill-equipped and without full appreciation of the hazards they were facing". The Elizabeth Emblem - a national form of recognition named after Elizabeth II and conferred by the King - is silver in colour, oval and carries an inscription 'For A Life Given In Service'. The families of a total of 106 public servants from across the UK who died in service were included in what is only the second list of recipients of the emblem. Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Pat McFadden said: "We owe an enduring debt to the public servants who give their lives to protect others. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "The Elizabeth Emblem is a reminder not just of the ultimate price their loved ones have paid in service of our communities, it is a lasting symbol of our national gratitude for their incredible sacrifice." Scottish Secretary Ian Murray paid tribute to those who were recognised. He said: 'Every one of these brave public servants gave their life to protect others. They are people who stepped forward when most of us would step back, and they paid the ultimate price. 'I hope that the families of all those recognised will take some comfort in knowing that their loved ones, and their service, has not been forgotten.' And First Minister John Swinney welcomed the awards. 'This recognition enables us to remember their sacrifice and their lives dedicated to public service. They made Scotland a better place for us all and we continue to honour their memory.'
