Fire crews and mourners line streets to honour fallen firefighter Martyn Sadler
Mr Sadler's coffin, draped in the Union flag, was carried atop an aerial ladder platform fire engine through the streets of Bicester in Oxfordshire.
Hundreds of people gathered along the route in respectful silence while uniformed firefighters marched behind the coffin.
The funeral cortege passes Bicester Fire Station (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Mr Sadler was killed in a fire at the Bicester Motion site on May 15, alongside fellow firefighter Jennie Logan, 30, and local businessman Dave Chester, 57.
The cortege paused outside Bicester fire station at 11am, where firefighters stood to attention for a minute's silence.
It then travelled to the nearby St Edburg's Church where a private service took place.
As Mr Sadler's coffin was carried into the church, standard bearers from across the national fire sector lined a route outside.
Rob MacDougall, chief fire officer of the Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, told mourners that Mr Sadler had just completed 20 years' service when he died, having joined as a cadet aged 14.
His first full-time post was with Berkshire Fire Service before joining the London Fire Brigade in 2022, and he was also a retained fire fighter with the Oxfordshire service.
'Martyn's connection to the fire service, particularly in Oxfordshire, is deeply rooted in his family,' Mr MacDougall said.
'Firefighting was truly in Martyn's blood.
'Martyn's passing has sent ripples far beyond Oxfordshire, and the heartbreak is felt by colleagues across the London Fire Brigade, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service, and emergency services across the country.
'Martyn's kindness will guide us and inspire us all. His courage, and selflessness of helping others will never be forgotten.
'Let's find comfort in knowing that his legacy will live on through all of us here today.'
His voice cracking with emotion, he added: 'Let's remember his smile, his laughter, and the joy he brought to all of us.'
The coffin of the firefighter is carried into St Edburg's Church in Bicester (Rod Minchin/PA)
Mourners sang the hymns Jerusalem, Abide With Me and Amazing Grace during the hour-long service, which was led by Revd Peter Wright.
Mr Sadler's father, Duncan, told mourners: 'Martyn, as your mum and dad, you made us so proud.
'You achieved everything you set out to achieve in your young life and right through to the end.
'The passion you showed towards your career, the passion and love you showed towards your family, your friends and all your colleagues will never be forgotten.
'As a family we miss him every day and he has left a huge hole in our lives, but we are incredibly proud of all that he achieved.'
Mr Sadler's younger sister Kelly told the congregation: 'Martyn, my heart broke into a million pieces that night in May and I am not sure I will ever come to terms with never seeing you again or hearing you shout, 'All right little sis?' as you walk into a room.
'For 20-odd years you ran towards danger when most of us would run away and although I am a little bit mad at you for doing it that night when you weren't even on call, I know that you wouldn't have had it any other way.
'I will make sure that Myla and Bradley never stop waving at 'Uncle Martyn's nee naws' and that we all try to take a leaf out of your book and have the courage to be brave, to have the biggest smile whilst doing so, and to never stop achieving our dreams, just like you did.'
The congregation also listened to Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, which reflected Mr Sadler's love of rugby and his links with Bicester RFC.
At the end of his service Mr Sadler's coffin was carried out of the church to the song Hero, sung by Mariah Carey.
Ten fire crews were called to tackle the blaze, and thick black smoke could be seen rising into the sky.
Martyn Sadler died in a blaze in May (Thames Valley Police/PA)
Two other firefighters sustained serious injuries in the blaze and have been released from hospital.
Thames Valley Police said post-mortem examinations suggested the three victims sustained injuries 'typically caused by the collapse of part of a structure'.
An investigation by the force's major crime unit is ongoing, alongside inquiries by the Health and Safety Executive and fire investigators.
An inquest has been adjourned until November 25.
Firefighters place their helmets on the ground as a mark of respect (Jonathan Brady/PA)
Tributes poured in after the tragedy, with Mr Sadler's family saying he was 'born to be a firefighter'.
'Coming from a strong, fire service family it was always in his blood, but it was significantly more than that with him, it was his life,' they added.
Books of condolence were opened across Bicester in the days following the fire, and two gold plaques were placed at the scene of the blaze, signed: 'Love from the Bicester community.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Mysterious fingerprint found on 2,600-year-old seal linked to Biblical doomsday warning
Archaeologists have uncovered a 2,600-year-old clay seal in Jerusalem that may be tied to a biblical warning of impending doom. The artifact, known as a bulla, dates back to the First Temple period and bears an ancient Hebrew inscription that reads: 'Belonging to Yeda'yah (son of) Asayahu.' Even more astonishing, the seal retains a visible fingerprint, believed to have been left by the ancient official who once owned it. Archaeologists believe the name inscribed on the seal may connect directly to a pivotal moment in the biblical account of King Josiah of Judah, who launched sweeping religious reforms after a sacred scroll was discovered in Jerusalem. The scroll, believed to be a version of Deuteronomy, outlined severe curses for disobedience, including famine, war, exile and the devastation of both the land and the Temple. When the contents were read aloud, Josiah was so alarmed by its warnings that he tore his robes and sent a group of trusted officials, including a man named Asayahu, to rid Jerusalem of pagan practices. The newly discovered seal, bearing the name of Asayahu's son, Yeda'yah, offers compelling evidence of a royal official likely active during this critical period. It not only supports the existence of individuals named in the biblical record but also reinforces the historical and spiritual significance of the scroll's rediscovery, an event that marked a turning point in Judah's religious history, researchers said. Archaeologist Zachi Dvira, who co-directs the project, told The Times of Israel: 'Obviously, we are not sure that the Asayahu mentioned on the sealing is the same that appears in the Bible. 'However, several such artifacts found in the area of the Temple Mount carry biblical names, and it does make sense, because these were not objects used by common people.' Marks on the back of the clay seal suggest it was once used to secure a bag or storage container, likely tied with a cord, and the script style places it around the the late First Temple period, roughly between the late 7th and early 6th century BC. That was around the time the Bible says King Josiah of Judah ordered repairs made to the Temple in Jerusalem, which was also known as Solomon's Temple. The order came after the Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586BC. During the renovations, workers uncovered an ancient sacred scroll, Sefer haTorah, which scholars believe was likely an early version of the Pentateuch, specifically the Book of Deuteronomy, an event mentioned in 2 Kings 22:12 and 2 Chronicles 34:20. When the sacred scroll was read aloud to King Josiah, its warnings about the people's sins and the threat of divine punishment left the monarch shaken. The scroll was said to have revealed that the people of Judah had seriously violated God's covenant by worshiping other gods and engaging in pagan practices. A prophetess, mentioned in 2 Kings 22:16–17, confirmed the doom to King Josiah, telling him God would bring disaster on Jerusalem. According to 2 Kings 23, Josiah sent officials out to tear down shrines, altars and high places dedicated to Baal, Asherah, Molech, and other foreign gods, even desecrating them to ensure they would never be used again. Among those officials was a senior figure named Asayahu, described in the Bible as 'the king's servant.' Given his status, scholars have suggested that it is entirely plausible that his son, Yeda'yah, followed in his footsteps and held a high-ranking role in the royal court or Temple administration. The discovery of a clay seal inscribed with the name 'Yeda'yah son of Asayahu' has now sparked excitement among researchers, who believe it may be directly linked to the very events described in the Bible. Experts from the Temple Mount Sifting Project said the connection is highly credible, pointing out that seals like this were typically used only by officials of significant authority. Its discovery on the Temple Mount adds further weight to the theory that Yeda'yah served in a prominent role during the First Temple period. The historical backdrop is equally compelling. Just a few decades after the scroll was found, Jerusalem was invaded by Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar. The city's walls were breached, the Temple was destroyed, and many residents were killed or taken into exile, including key members of the ruling elite. During the siege, much of the city's food came from royal and Temple storehouses, which were stocked with grain, oil, wine, legumes and honey. These supplies were sealed with pieces of clay stamped with the names of the officials responsible for managing them. One such seal previously uncovered by the project bore the name '[He]zelyahu son of Immer,' an official believed to have worked in the Temple treasury. Now, this newly discovered seal, belonging to Yeda'yah son of Asayahu, appeared to tell a similar story, suggesting he too was responsible for overseeing one of these critical storehouses.
BBC News
14 hours ago
- BBC News
Worcester Park fire: Resident 'on high alert' since moving back after blaze
"If I'd found somewhere else I would have gladly moved on," says Agnese De Masi from inside her beautifully furnished flat on the second floor of Richmond is one of three residents who have moved back into a rebuilt property on an estate of American-style houses in Worcester Park, south-west September 2019, a fire ripped though the block of flats in minutes and took 125 firefighters five hours to bring under control. Nothing of the building could be of that blaze are never far away and since March, the fire alarm has sounded multiple times in the night and the newly rebuilt flats have been evacuated twice."We live in fear," she says. Ms De Masi, an interior designer, is still working on the decoration of her flat while she tries to rebuild her life. She was one of 23 households that lost everything on the night of the fire almost six years was uneasy about moving back into the rebuilt Richmond House but hadn't found anything else of a suitable size or location."I don't want to be away from my network of friends, which has been my safety net in the past few years," she the fire, she has suffered anxiety and symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), so is particularly vulnerable to fire alarm issues in the newly-completed has been activated five times since March, with the London Fire Brigade (LFB) attending on three of those occasions. And residents have been evacuated from the building twice in the night."I had heart palpitations the whole day because obviously the alarm went off during the night, which is exactly what happened the night of the fire," she says."You go to bed and you don't know if you're going to be woken up by another alarm. It's not a pleasant situation to be in." 'Complete lack of empathy' Housing Association Metropolitan Thames Valley (MTVH) is the freeholder and management agent for Richmond House. Ms De Masi says her concerns about the fire warning system were initially not taken feels residents have been given insufficient detail about works to the alarm system and the long gaps in communication show a "complete lack of empathy."MTVH has now addressed some of Ms De Masi's concerns and says it has specialists investigating why the alarm is being activated.A spokesperson said: "We rebuilt Richmond House to the highest fire safety standards, and fully involved residents in the process."In the wake of the fire, the housing association "offered to buy back flats from any resident who wished to move on", and to ease transition back into the building "offered residents a two-month grace period to move back in gradually"."We know how distressing fire alarm activations are for all residents and we particularly understand the anxiety this may cause for those original residents returning to Richmond House. Their safety, and feeling of safety, is hugely important to us and has been our focus both during the rebuild and return to their homes," they added. The first residents of Richmond House had moved in only nine years before it was destroyed. There was a stay-put strategy for those living there, meaning that a fire should be contained in one area, allowing time for emergency services to safely evacuate the the blaze tore through the timber frame in minutes. It was thanks to the quick thinking and bravery of residents helping each other to escape that no one was killed or seriously investigation by LFB and independent experts found serious safety defects. Missing cavity barriers and fire-stopping measures allowed the fire to spread rapidly. 'Inadequate fire safety measures' Ms De Masi was part of a group that brought a £3m damages claim against the original construction firm, St James - a subsidiary of the Berkeley Group - and the Richmond House freeholder, MTVH. They settled out of court for an undisclosed Christian Hansen, a partner at Bindmans which represents the residents, said: "Since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, it's come to light that there are thousands of buildings across the country, which have been constructed with inadequate fire safety measures."He likened the fire in Worcester Park to the Spectrum building in Dagenham, which was destroyed in similar circumstances in August last Hansen said most of the Richmond House residents "suffered traumatic psychological injuries on the night of the fire". "Having to go through a years-long battle with the constructors and the freeholders in their claim for compensation, was in many cases re-traumatising and actually exacerbated the symptoms they were suffering," he Ms De Masi, the years of litigation, consultation on the rebuild and now ongoing maintenance issues have taken their toll."It is a second job. It's a very frustrating second job, for which you don't get paid, you don't get holiday," she said."And it actually ages you because you're constantly trying to get justice and to balance things out. It's very difficult."
Glasgow Times
a day ago
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow firefighters to cycle 400 miles to honour fallen colleagues
The challenge will see crew commander Gavin Callander and firefighter Grant Baillie pedal from the SFRS national HQ in Cambuslang to Bicester Community Fire Station in Oxfordshire in just two days. Their journey is in honour of firefighters Jennie Logan and Martyn Sadler, who lost their lives in the line of duty in June. Both were based at Bicester Community Fire Station. Read more: Some fire truck response times in North Glasgow could increase - here's why Gavin, 40, from Knightswood Community Fire Station, and Grant, 46, from Polmadie Community Fire Station, will be joined by two additional team members from English fire services, who will be running and cycling from their respective home stations. Gavin said: 'I didn't know Martyn personally, but we were both at Royal Berkshire at the same time. 'Royal Berkshire is a small brigade and everyone knows everyone. 'I have a lot of good friends there and they've been hit really hard by this. 'That is obviously an extra incentive and it's why I'm determined that, even if it takes me all night, this will get done. 'Martyn and Jennie made the ultimate sacrifice while working to protect others, and that's what I'll be telling myself if things get tough while cycling. 'It'll be tough, but in comparison, I'm only cycling for two days. 'I'll suck it up and make sure that it gets done.' Gavin and Grant will leave SFRS HQ on August 5 and intend to meet up with their English counterparts on August 7, in Bicester. There, they plan to present flags from their respective services and messages of support to representatives from Oxford Fire and Rescue Service. A flag signed on behalf of all SFRS staff by chief officer Stuart Stevens will be among those presented. Read more: Glasgow to add 720 new on-street bike storage spaces amid 'strong demand' Stuart said: 'We were all shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Jennie and Martyn and our thoughts very much remain with their families, friends and colleagues. 'The determination and selflessness shown by Grant, Gavin and their teammates in preparing for and taking on this challenge is inspiring. 'I wish them every success as they get ready to begin their journey. 'We are all right behind them.' All funds raised from this charity challenge will go to the Fire Fighters Charity. More information about the challenge, including how to donate, can be found online here: Lyndsay Campbell, regional fundraiser for the Fire Fighters Charity, said: 'It's so inspiring to see our firefighting family come together to take on this impressive fundraising challenge in memory of Jennie and Martyn. 'The money raised will provide care and support to those in need in our firefighting family.'
