Thirty years on – poignant tributes to fallen firefighters

A wreath laying and memorial service is to take place in memory of two firefighters who lost their lives in a tragic warehouse blaze 30 years ago.

The wreath laying and short memorial event will take place at the scene of the fire in Gillender Street, Bromley By Bow, between 11 and 11.30am on Saturday July 10.

A few words will be said by the Rev Mia Holborn and wreaths will be laid by the LFB, FBU and RMA.

• Terry and David

And then between 12.30 and 1pm at All Saints Church, Poplar, just a short drive away, there will be a memorial service for firefighters, and relatives and families.

Both events are by invitation only.

There were over 100 firefighters at the fire on July 10, 1991 from all over East London.

• Newham Recorder report on the tragedy

Sadly Silvertown firefighters Terry Hunt and David Stokoe perished in the fire.

Terry, 34, and David 25, were both firefighters at Silvertown Green Watch.

Terry was born in Plaistow and was married with two sons at the time of the tragedy. He joined the London Fire Brigade in 1979 and had been at Silvertown for two years.

• East London Advertiser report on the tragedy

David from Hornchurch, joined Silvertown in 1990, straight after completing his training,

Both men were laying guide lines in the building when tragedy struck and they were overcome by fumes.

Nationally 24 firefighters have died in the line of the duty since the incident which Terry and David died. In total 126 firefighters have perished in the United Kingdom since 1900.

Pictures: Colin Grainger, Newham Recorder, East London Advertiser