When I passed Glasgow's Central Station recently I decided to take another picture of 'Citizen Firefighter'.
The bronze statue named Citizen Firefighter was sculpted by Kenny Hunter. It recognises the work of firefighters past and present and is in remembrance of those who have risked their lives and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in an attempt to save people from burning buildings.
Less than three months after it was unveiled on June 17 2001, Citizen Firefighter became a focal point for the people of Glasgow after the events of September 11 in New York and became a place for many to leave flowers and tributes to the many firefighters who died in those events.
Citizen Firefighter also stands as a reminder of all of the Glasgow firefighters who have died while on duty. Perhaps the first of those was Fireman James Bruce who, on January 15, 1832, fell to his death from a ladder while tackling a fire in the former Queen's Court building on the east side of Queen Street.
This is a good idea, there ought to be more statues dedicated to the emergency services.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more Adrian.
DeleteA good idea for a statue and a well made one too.
ReplyDeleteMersad
Mersad Donko Photography
Absolutely Mersad.
DeleteUntil I read the blogpost I thought I was looking at an image of one of those street performers who cleverly freezes in a statuesque manner. There should be more statues of ordinary heroes and less of the rich and famous.
ReplyDeleteGlasgow has some absolutely superb examples of the street performers too YP. I see no reason to reduce the number of statues for famous people (by no means all of whom are rich) but I agree that there could be more to other groups. They couldn't be to individuals because they would then become famous!
DeleteExcellent idea and sculpture :))
ReplyDeleteIt is Ruby, I agree.
DeleteThey're worth honouring. Clever use of the mask to point out that they usually remain anonymous to us...
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought of that Monica but it is.
DeleteI agree with YP and Monica.
ReplyDeleteBut then I started thinking of all the soldiers who were just following orders.
So, perhaps we need statues to specific, faced, 'ordinary' people who DIDN'T follow BAD orders.
Now that's a difficult one Kate.
DeleteOnly last week, I've been reading up on the York Minster Fire from 1984 (it was mentioned in Jack Sheffield's book "School's Out"), so your post tied in nicely with that. Monica and YP have said it all, and Kate definitely has a point, too.
ReplyDeleteI've still got to get to that Jack Sheffield book but I remember the fire well.
DeleteA very poignant statue to a well-deserving group who risk their lives everyday to save others.
ReplyDeleteYes Virginia they become such an important part of our lives when accidents and fires happen.
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