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Funeral for third killed fireman Funeral for third killed fireman
(about 2 hours later)
The funeral of a 20-year-old man who was one of four Warwickshire firefighters killed in a warehouse fire is taking place. Hundreds of firefighters have lined the streets in memory of a 20-year-old colleague who was one of four killed as a result of a warehouse blaze.
Ashley Stephens was a retained firefighter at Alcester fire station when he died tackling the blaze in Atherstone-on-Stour on 2 November. The funeral procession for Ashley Stephens went from Alcester fire station to St Nicholas Church.
His funeral procession will go from Alcester fire station to St Nicholas Church in the High Street. The retained firefighter died tackling the blaze in Atherstone-on-Stour, Warwickshire, on 2 November.
It follows the funerals of Ian Reid, 44, and 27-year-old John Averis. County Fire Officer William Brown told the congregation Mr Stephens had loved being a firefighter.
Mr Brown, whose eulogy was relayed on loudspeakers to hundreds of people outside the church, also praised the young firefighter's bravery.
Third funeral
"We are all now only too aware of the bravery that Ashley was steeped in," he said.
"But, much as we mourn him and miss him... now is the time to celebrate that very heroism that led him, unerringly, to the fire."
His funeral follows those of Ian Reid, 44, and 27-year-old John Averis.
The funeral of the fourth firefighter killed in the blaze, 24-year-old Darren Yates Badley, will take place on Friday.The funeral of the fourth firefighter killed in the blaze, 24-year-old Darren Yates Badley, will take place on Friday.
Mr Stephens, who had a three-month-old son with his fiancee Emma Crocker, joined Alcester fire station in April 2006.Mr Stephens, who had a three-month-old son with his fiancee Emma Crocker, joined Alcester fire station in April 2006.
He followed in the footsteps of his father, who is watch manager at the station and has been with the service for 26 years.He followed in the footsteps of his father, who is watch manager at the station and has been with the service for 26 years.
Hundreds of mourners were expected at the funeral at St Nicholas Church.