Memorial plaque unveiled for Inveraray firefighter
The Fire Brigades Union remembered one of its fallen heroes last Saturday with a commemorative red plaque unveiling in Inveraray, writes John McCallum.
Held at the town’s fire station last Saturday, union members, serving firefighters at Inveraray station and townspeople, gathered to pay their respects to Alexander ‘Sandy’ Drummond, of Inveraray Fire Station.
Mr Drummond lost his life fighting a fire which badly damaged the Crinan Hotel in Argyll, 44 years before, on October 29, 1978.
As well as serving as a firefighter, Mr Drummond was a former town and county councillor and magistrate, being described as a ‘noted member of the community’ in The Oban Times at the time of his death. The Red Plaques are part of a Fire Brigades Union initiative to commemorate firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The ceremony included speeches from FBU senior officials and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service senior officers.
Heather McGee of Mid Argyll Pipe Band played at the ceremony.
Seona Hart, the FBU’s regional treasurer, said: ‘The Red Plaque Scheme has created memorials for firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty since 2017, with each Red Plaque commemorating a moment in local history, and offering a place of reflection for the community.
‘Each plaque is funded by the Firefighters 100 Lottery, run by the Fire Brigades Union.’
FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said: ‘It is vital we remember firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
‘Every day firefighters go to work not knowing if they will come home or not.
‘The tremendous bravery and sacrifice of those who lose their lives in the line of duty should always be commemorated, and red plaques help make sure that that is the case.’