Emblem honour for firefighter who died after blast

A plaque honouring Paul Parkin and his colleague Bob Smith was unveiled at Parkway Fire Station in Sheffield in September

The family of a Sheffield firefighter who died in the line of duty will receive a posthumous award in his memory.

Paul Parkin of Sheffield Fire Brigade died in March 1974 aged 27 after he was critically injured in an explosion at a steel plant in the city.

He has been named among the first recipients of the Elizabeth Emblem, which recognises emergency service workers who have died while doing their jobs.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: "We must never forget those who have given their lives to protect others in the line of duty."

The Elizabeth Emblem is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, awarded to armed forces members

He added: "While families will never be able to replace their loved ones, the Elizabeth Emblem pays tribute to the sacrifice they have made."

The award has been introduced following a campaign by the fathers of two police officers killed while responding to a routine 999 call in Greater Manchester in 2012.

The honour is the civilian equivalent of the Elizabeth Cross, which recognises members of the UK armed forces who died in action or as a result of a terrorist attack.

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Mr Parkin died from injuries sustained in the blast at British Steel Corporation’s Tinsley Plant on 25 February 1974.

In September a plaque was unveiled at Parkway Fire Station in Sheffield in memory of him and his colleague Bob Smith, who was also killed by the explosion.

Mr Smith was 47 and had served with the Sheffield Fire Brigade for 23 years. He died three days after the explosion, while Mr Parkin died several weeks later on 28 March.

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