Red Knights
The Red Knights Motorcycle Club is an international club comprised of firefighters, and the branch in Essex created a memorial garden where families, friends and colleagues can pay their respects and remember those that have served in the Fire Service. Part of this memorial is a Red Plaque donated from the Fire Brigades Union.
The memorial also includes a statue of a firefighter and a garden decorated with flowers and plants. The garden is surrounded by a brick wall and each brick is with a plaque dedicated to a firefighter. In addition there is a retired fire engine – a Dennis Rapier – donated by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and a building to showcase firefighter memorabilia.
The memorial was unveiled on 4 May 2024 – International Firefighters Memorial Day. The event was attended by dignitaries and senior fire service colleagues from around the UK including FBU National Officer Riccardo la Torre. It ended with a performance by the Sutherland Pipes and Drums.
President of the Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club England 4 Essex chapter Ronnie Patterson said:
“Today marked a poignant moment in our collective history as we honoured the courageous fire service colleagues who dedicated their lives to serving their communities. The National Red Plaque Fire Service Memorial stands as a testament to their bravery and selflessness, ensuring that their legacy will be remembered and revered for generations to come. We are deeply grateful to all who have contributed to this meaningful tribute. The Red Knights remain committed to upholding the spirit of camaraderie and remembrance that this memorial represents.”
Quartermaster of the Red Knights Motorcycle Club Mark Moughton spoke on the memorial:
“It’s going to be a place for families to sit and reflect and take their children. What we’re looking at is not just the deaths but people who have served 30 years in the fire service serving others, they can have a plaque up there and families can come down to remember. It’s that sort of thing we want to get across.”
Essex Deputy Chief Fire Officer Moira Bruin said:
“Today we are not just opening a memorial garden; we are creating a sacred space, a place of remembrance, reflection and healing. The memorial garden is a tribute to our heroes, a place where their stories will live on, and where their memories will inspire future generations.”
Below are memories added by those who knew a Firefighter or had a story that they wish to share with you. If you have a tribute for a Firefighter that you wish to add, please include your memory below.
Please help support our Firefighters with the Firefighters 100 Lottery, a weekly online lottery created to support firefighters, their bereaved families and to honour the bravery and sacrifice of firefighters killed in the line of duty. With your help we can have schemes such as the Red Plaque Project for memorials to those lives lost.
Learn about the history of the Red Plaque Project and discover other Firefighters that have also received Red Plaques.
Photo credits:
