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| David Thomas obituary | David Thomas obituary |
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| My husband, David Thomas, who has died from cancer aged 50, dedicated 30 years to firefighting for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. During his long career, he and his colleagues witnessed unspeakable tragedies and saved lives, property and possessions. He was a well-respected officer and courageous to the last. | My husband, David Thomas, who has died from cancer aged 50, dedicated 30 years to firefighting for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service. During his long career, he and his colleagues witnessed unspeakable tragedies and saved lives, property and possessions. He was a well-respected officer and courageous to the last. |
| Born in Newton-le-Willows, in Merseyside, David attended St Aelred's secondary school and joined the fire service in 1981 at the age of 19. He was a firefighter with Green Watch at St Helens community fire station for a decade, before moving to Newton-le-Willows fire station. | Born in Newton-le-Willows, in Merseyside, David attended St Aelred's secondary school and joined the fire service in 1981 at the age of 19. He was a firefighter with Green Watch at St Helens community fire station for a decade, before moving to Newton-le-Willows fire station. |
| In 2008 he became a crew manager at St Helens and in 2008 he was made a watch manager, based at Whiston community fire station. He facilitated an important home fire safety check strategic campaign in Knowsley, from 2009 to 2010, and finished his service where he had begun, at St Helens. He left the service on medical retirement in December 2011. | In 2008 he became a crew manager at St Helens and in 2008 he was made a watch manager, based at Whiston community fire station. He facilitated an important home fire safety check strategic campaign in Knowsley, from 2009 to 2010, and finished his service where he had begun, at St Helens. He left the service on medical retirement in December 2011. |
| A lifelong socialist active in the Fire Brigades Union, David was a brave, dedicated and principled man who deserved much more from life than he had had to endure lately. He was honoured by the fire service with a funeral befitting the esteem with which he was held, attended by more than 200 firefighters, friends and family. | A lifelong socialist active in the Fire Brigades Union, David was a brave, dedicated and principled man who deserved much more from life than he had had to endure lately. He was honoured by the fire service with a funeral befitting the esteem with which he was held, attended by more than 200 firefighters, friends and family. |
| We married in 1990. I survive him, along with his mother, Joan, and his sister, Margaret. | We married in 1990. I survive him, along with his mother, Joan, and his sister, Margaret. |
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