Shirley Towers: High-rise sprinklers recommended
A coroner says that sprinklers should be fitted to all high-rise buildings of more than 30m after the death of two firemen in Southampton.
Keeping firefighters safe
A Hampshire firefighter who experienced the death of two colleagues while on duty has produced an invention to prevent a similar tragedy.
Firefighter inquest verdict
The jury at the inquest into the deaths of two firefighters has reached a verdict
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'In Alan's memory' - firefighter's widow and sister abseil for charity
by Juliette FletcherAbseiling down one of the South's tallest landmarks is no mean feat. But the widow and sister of firefighter Alan Bannon, who died in the Shirley Towers fire in Southampton, did it for a good cause. Using ropes and harnesses the women made their way down the 170 metre Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.
They were raising money for the charity that helped them through a difficult time - The Fire Fighters Charity. The interviewees in Juliette Fletcher's report are Charlotte Bannon, Alan Bannon's widow; and Lin Trott, Alan Bannon's sister.
Women prepare to abseil for firefighters' charity
Charlotte Bannon and Lin Trott have been preparing to abseil down the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. The women are raising money for The Fire Fighters Charity, in memory of Alan Bannon - Charlotte's husband, and Lin's brother. He died in the Shirley Towers fire in Southampton in 2010.
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Charity abseil for firefighters after fatal Shirley Towers blaze
The widow and sister of one of the firefighters who died in a fire at the Shirley Towers block of flats in Southampton are abseiling down the side of the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth for charity.
Alan Bannon and his colleague Jim Shears died while tackling the blaze in 2010. Alan Bannon's widow, Charlotte - and his sister, Lin Trott, are taking on the challenge for The Fire Fighters Charity.
Shirley Towers fatal fire report calls for sprinklers in all residential high rises
by Martin DowseHampshire Fire and Rescue Service is calling for all residential tower blocks in the country to be fitted with sprinkler systems - after the death of two of the service's firemen.
Alan Bannon and James Shears died in the blaze at Shirley Towers in April 2010. Following their own investigation into the incident the fire service also says measures to make tower blocks safer are not being implemented quickly enough.
The interviewees in Martin Dowse's report are: John Bonney, the Chief Officer of Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service; Lin Trott, Alan Bannon's sister; Nick Cross, the Head of Housing for Southampton City Council; and Dave Curry the Director of the Chief Fire Officers' Association.
Report into Shirley Towers fatal fire tragedy published
The official fire service report into the Shirley Towers tragedy in Southampton in which two firefighters - Alan Bannon and James Shears - died, has been published.
A three-year investigation by Hampshire Fire & Rescue Service has led to nearly one hundred recommendations for changes. Martin Dowse reports.
Firefighters release 'painful' Shirley Towers report
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has published its final report into the deaths of two firefighters in Southampton in 2010.
St Mary's firefighters James Shears and Alan Bannon lost their lives while tackling a blaze at Shirley Towers in April of that year.
An inquest into their deaths last year returned a verdict of death by misadventure.
The publication of the final report, which details the events of the incident and shares the service's recommendations and findings, marks the end of Hampshire's official investigation process.
Chief Officer John Bonney said: "The release of our final investigation report into Shirley Towers represents a significant landmark for us.
"The investigation work that has taken place in the last three years since the incident has required us to be open and honest with ourselves and this has at times been painful and challenging.
"But it was vital to ensure that we were able to learn from the event so that the safety of the public, as well as firefighters, could be improved."
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In memory of Alan Bannon
To them he was a hero. A husband, a brother - a firefighter who lost his life trying to help others. Alan Bannon died in the Shirley Towers blaze in Southampton almost three years ago. Now his wife and sister are ready to take on a huge challenge - to raise money in his memory.
To donate: Text: Bert71 and amount you want to sponsor, through to 70070.
This is Lin's site
This is Charlotte's site
Firefighter's family speaks
Today we'll speak to two women who were closest to Alan Bannon - one of the firefighters who died in a tower block blaze. An inquest jury recorded a verdict of misadventure as questions remain over whether it could have been avoided. From that day, July last year, Martin Dowse reports.
In memory of Alan
The widow and sister of a firefighter who was killed in a fire are preparing to abseil down the Spinnaker Tower to raise money for the Fire Fighters Charity.
Shirley Towers: High-rise sprinklers recommended
A coroner says that sprinklers should be fitted to all high-rise buildings of more than 30m after the death of two firemen in Southampton.
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