In memory of the brave

The town's fire station, at Merstow Green, has had a plaque - incorporating a fragment of glass retrieved from the debris of the World Trade Center - installed on the wall.

The plaque is the work of Evesham mason, Paul Brown, of Brown's Memorials, in Port Street.

It was unveiled by the Hereford and Worcester brigade's Divisional Commander, Paul Amos, during a ceremony, attended by members of the public, which included a parade by the station's firefighters and a minute's silence.

Evesham Station Commander, Steve Fellows, said the events of last year, which claimed the lives of hundreds of New York Fire Department firefighters, had touched the Evesham crews deeply.

"The watches, in particular, at the station felt it because of the number of firefighters that had been killed," he explained, "It's equivalent to every full-time firefighter in this brigade. They wanted to commemorate it in some way."

He described the mood during yesterday's ceremony as "reflective".

Evesham Sub Officer Mel Turbutt had arranged for Mr Brown to make the black granite plaque, which included glass from the World Trade Center.

The glass was brought to Britain earlier this year by Gary Suson, the New York Fire Department's official photographer, when he visited the Hereford and Worcester brigade.

Mr Fellows said of the plaque: "It will be there for evermore, while this station stands here, as a tribute to the dead firefighters."

Mr Brown waived his fee for the plaque. "I felt I didn't want to charge for it," he explained, adding he felt proud to have been asked to make it.

"It's quite a fitting tribute, really, to what happened last year," he said, "especially with the piece of glass."

The events of last year were also remembered during a service at The Church of All Saints in Evesham yesterday.

Vicar, the Rev Richard Armitage, said there was a higher than usual attendance, adding: "Prayers were said for those who lost their lives and for peace in our world now. The mood was quiet and thoughtful."