‘Wonderful’ firefighter dad dies as heartbroken family say ‘he will always be remembered’

Tributes are being paid to a brave West Midlands firefighter who tragically died of cancer. Crew manager Laurie Flannagan lost her battle with the disease in May.

He enjoyed the outdoors, running marathons and climbing mountains. A tribute written by his family on a fundraising page said: “He is much loved and will always be remembered. Laurie was a wonderful father and loving husband.

“Laurie took advantage of every day and made the most of his life. Even when he was terminally ill, he went for daily walks and enjoyed family days. Laurie will be remembered for his strength, resilience and zest for life. life.”

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A West Midlands Fire Service spokesman said: “Laurie has been bravely battling terminal cancer since July 2023. Remarkably, despite the horrors of this disease, he has continued to raise money for charities close to his heart , including St Giles Hospice.

“He was a selfless and caring man. Laurie was surrounded throughout his battle by a deeply loving family – his wife Sarah and his children Kirsty, Ciaran and Laurence. He will be missed by all who knew him and were touched by him. his life is also a loss to the communities of the West Midlands.”

He joined West Midlands Fire Service in 2008 and served for 16 years. A “ride” took place on Sunday, June 9, with his biker friends visiting the fire stations where Laurie served before joining his family, colleagues and friends to celebrate his life, reports BirminghamLive.

Laurie was initially posted to Dudley’s Orange Watch before serving at Ward End, Ladywood and Perry Barr in Birmingham and then working as a crew manager at Bloxwich. He was a keen motorcyclist and was part of WMFS’s BikerDown safety scheme alongside other regional motorcycling events to promote road safety for motorcyclists.

Donations will go to St Giles Hospice. To donate, click here.

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