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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Funeral for third killed fireman | Funeral for third killed fireman |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of firefighters have lined the streets in memory of a 20-year-old colleague - one of four killed as a result of a warehouse blaze. | |
| The coffin of Ashley Stephens was carried on a fire engine from Alcester fire station to St Nicholas Church. | |
| The retained firefighter died tackling the blaze in Atherstone-on-Stour, Warwickshire, on 2 November. | The retained firefighter died tackling the blaze in Atherstone-on-Stour, Warwickshire, on 2 November. |
| County Fire Officer William Brown told the congregation Mr Stephens had loved being a firefighter. | County Fire Officer William Brown told the congregation Mr Stephens had loved being a firefighter. |
| Members of Mr Stephen's family walked behind the coffin as it left Alcester fire station. | |
| Mr Brown, whose eulogy was relayed on loudspeakers to hundreds of people outside the church, also praised the young firefighter's bravery. | Mr Brown, whose eulogy was relayed on loudspeakers to hundreds of people outside the church, also praised the young firefighter's bravery. |
| Third funeral | Third funeral |
| "We are all now only too aware of the bravery that Ashley was steeped in," he said. | "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. | |
| Ashley Stephens began work at the station last year | |
| "Our solace is that the world needs men and women who share Ashley's courage, dedication and passion so that our families and children can be safe." | |
| Mr Stephens' 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 Stephen's body was retrieved from the ruins of the warehouse following a five-day search operation. | |
| The service was also told that the family of Mr Stephens, a Manchester United supporter, had received a note of condolence from the team's manager Sir Alex Ferguson. | |
| Our promise to you is to bring your precious son up as you wanted to Ian CrockerFather of Mr Stephens' fiancee | |
| Mr Brown added: "For my part I am proud that Ashley loved being a firefighter. | |
| "I am proud that I spend my working life in the company of such men and women who value the safety of their communities ahead of their own." | |
| Mr Stephens' four-month-old son, George, was carried into the church by his grandfather, Ian Crocker who also paid tribute. | |
| Mr Crocker, whose daughter, Emma, was engaged to Mr Stephens, told mourners he would have been "proud and privileged" to have had the firefighter as his son-in-law. | |
| "We were so happy when you met Emma. You went together like peas and carrots and you loved each other so much," he said. | |
| "George will grow up in the knowledge that his daddy was a hero and our promise to you is to bring your precious son up as you wanted to." | |
| Mr Stephens 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. |