Members of the public and fellow firefighters have donated thousands of pounds to the family of tragic Barry Martin following his death – with more than £3,000 donated around the time of his funeral on Friday.
Mr Martin, 38, died on January 27 after sustaining serious injuries as he and other colleagues tackled a raging bonfire at the former Jenners department store in Princes Street, Edinburgh, four days earlier. A deeply emotional funeral service was held at the capital's St Giles' Cathedral on February 17, attended by fire service top brass and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
An association of retired fire officers set up a fundraiser to support Mr Martin's family 10 days ago. The Fireaway Retirees Club has over 400 ex-officers in its ranks and created the JustGiving page to support Mr Martin's widow Shelley and his twin sons Oliver and Daniel, eight.
More than £3,000 was donated to the fundraiser in a 24-hour window from around the time of his funeral on Friday morning. To date, over £27,000 has been raised in total to support Mr Martin's family.
In a post to the page made on Saturday morning, Fireaway's David Martin said: "An emotional day yesterday [Friday] for all involved to honour Barry, such an outpouring of love and support for the family. Thank you for all your kind donations which helped us to move through our £25k target yesterday, truly an amazing amount.
"We have now set the target to £30k with your kindness and sharing. Let’s try and get to this target."
Those making donations range from ordinary members of the public and local businesses to trade unions and fellow firefighters at stations across the country. Many colleagues took part in a minute's silence on Monday in remembrance of the fallen hero and lowered flags to half-mast during Friday's service.
Making a £500 contribution, staff at Govan Fire Station said: "Thoughts and condolences are with Barry’s family, friends and colleagues at this very tough time." Donating £100, the White Watch at Sighthill Fire Station said: "R.I.P Barry – you can stand down, brother."
Friday's highly emotive service saw Mr Martin arrive on the Royal Mile atop a turntable ladder fire engine, flanked by colleagues dressed in black. The route was lined by uniformed Scottish Fire and Rescue Service personnel who bowed their heads as his coffin was borne into the cathedral.
SFRS interim chief officer Ross Haggart praised Mr Martin's "unwavering commitment" to his family and his job. He told the service: "Being there for people during their time of greatest need meant everything to him in his career.
"His colleagues say Barry was a family man, who always talked of his loved ones, who couldn't wait to get home to see them and tell them about his work. Barry's selfless duty will never be forgotten."
In a statement released ahead of the service, widow Shelley said she had been "utterly privileged" to be his wife, adding: "Our love, admiration and respect for him, will last forever.”
Mr Martin was the first Scottish firefighter to die in the line of duty since Ewan Williamson, who died tackling a fire in Edinburgh in 2009. Calls have been made for the fire officer to be posthumously awarded the George Cross, the highest non-military accolade that can be bestowed.
The Fireaway Retirees Club fundraiser for Barry Martin can be found on JustGiving.
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