Tribute to firefighter Richard, one year on (From Barry And District News)

Tribute to firefighter Richard, one year on

THE family and fire service colleagues of Richard Jenkins gathered for a memorial service on Monday evening to mark the first anniversary of his death.

Firefighter Richard, a member of White Watch at Barry's Port Road fire station, was killed on May 23 last year while tackling a blaze which was started deliberately at a derelict community centre in Ely. Family and colleagues paid tribute to him this week in the memorial garden at the fire station.

Richard, who was 28 and lived in Bridgend, left a wife Catherine and two children, Conor and Charlotte.

Members of White Watch said of their colleague at the time: "Richard was an extremely popular member of the Watch. He was a totally professional firefighter with many friends in and out of the job.

"He also took tremendous joy in his role as a family man."

In February, two Cardiff men who started the fire, Christopher Raisis and Jamie Evans, were jailed for ten years.