Residents call for memorial to firefighters (From Daily Echo)

Shirley Tower residents call for memorial to Alan Bannon and James Shears

10:33am Wednesday 6th April 2011 in Southampton Firefighter Deaths

RESIDENTS of Shirley Towers want to put up a plaque honouring the sacrifice of Jim and Alan.

They were due to stage their own two-minute silence tonight in memory of the firefighters, but have also begun work to see a permanent tribute to them.

Those living in the Church Street building are still faced by a daily reminder of what happened 12 months ago, with work still ongoing to repair properties damaged by the fire and the operation to stop it spreading throughout the block.

But David Boyce, secretary of Shirley Towers Residents’ Association, said they want to ensure the tragedy is never forgotten.

David, who used to live in the flat directly below number 72, where the blaze started, and was in temporary accommodation until January, said: “It’s the residents’ way of saying that they’ll never be forgotten, what they did in the line of duty that day.

“I think it’s going to be something that’s talked about for many years to come “There were a lot of families affected by it. It was a tragic event so there’s a lot of feelings.

“It was brought up at the last residents’ meeting that we wanted a plaque erected.

“Once we’ve got the goahead we’ll raise money inhouse and see how much the residents want to donate to it.

“It’s been agreed that a bronze plaque go on the wall where the flowers were laid.”