04-07-2025
Elizabeth Emblem honour for Herefordshire emergency workers who died
Three Herefordshire emergency workers who died in service have been recognised for their sacrifice, along with 103 Morris of Hereford and Worcester Fire Service, David Morgan from Wye Valley NHS Trust and West Midlands Ambulance Service's Jeremy Daw all received the Elizabeth award is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross and recognises the sacrifices made by public servants who have lost their lives as a result of their duty. 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."
He added: "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."Mr Morris, from Hereford, died during a fire at the Sun Valley poultry processing factory, when he was trapped by a fallen than 130 firefighters were sent to the scene on 6 September 35-year-old had been a full-time firefighter with 11 years' service when he responded to the fire, which started in a unit for defrosting 2023, Mr Morris and his colleague John Davies, who was also killed in the blaze, were remembered with a parade and wreath-laying ceremony.
Mr Morgan died at Hereford County Hospital, the hospital where he had worked for about seven years, after testing positive for Covid-19 on 28 January was described as "everyone's go-to guy" by Jane Ives, Wye Valley NHS Trust managing director. She said: "Dave was a great example of what we stand for in this trust."Speaking at the time, his wife Penny said the family was "truly devastated" by their sudden loss."He was my amazing husband and incredible father and grandfather," she said."The sadness we feel is more than words can express."
Mr Daw, a historian and a once retired paramedic, came out of retirement to help during the pandemic but died on 24 April 2021 after an object struck the ambulance he was Midlands Ambulance Service said that an "object of some description" pierced the windscreen in "a tragic accident".The 66-year-old had worked in Leominster and Hereford for almost 30 at the time of his death, emergency operations delivery director Nathan Hudson said: "He was a remarkable character."He was one of life's good guys and he will be sorely missed."
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