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BRIAN OTTAWAY

Dad started out in the Brigade in 1958 when he joined Glasgow Fire Brigade, although from Kent he had married a Glasgow girl whose father had been in a firefighter in Glasgow during the war. During his time in Glasgow he made many friends in the Service and his two daughters were born. He was serving with the Brigade at the time of the 1960 Cheapside Street Fire which took so many lives of his friends and colleagues and which he would, but for uncharacteristically being on sick leave, have attended.

In 1962 he joined the then, Kesteven Fire Brigade and the whole family including a new born son, moved south to Grantham, living in Brigade housing. The friendships and community during the 12 years we lived here staid with the whole family throughout his life time. During this time Dad went to the Fire Service College and passed his exams, eventually becoming Station Officer and in 1974 we all moved to Bourne in the LIncolnshire Fire Brigade.

Although based in Bourne, Dad was responsible for a number of small Retained stations in the neighbouring villages and we got used to him coming home for his tea and then going out to each stations training night. He was always proud of being in the Brigade, always immaculate in his uniform, and always touched by the human tragedy of some of the call outs he went to.

He retired and returned to his home village in Kent in 1985 after 27 years service and although he had other jobs until his state retirement in 1996, his heart always belonged to the Brigade and he always had a tale to tell of events, friendships and experiences of those times. He brought us up to appreciate and support the work of the then "Fire Benevolent Fund" and although we were fortunate never to need it ourselves took comfort in knowing it would be there for us if we did.

In retirement I was blessed to have him and my Mum move to be near me and my family and where he lived until his sudden passing in March 2010, leaving behind a wife of 54 years, 3 children and 8 grandchildren. He was much loved and is much missed by us all.

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