Fireman John A Gregory died of a heart attack on the way to a fire in Buckie on Friday, December 30th, 1983.
FIREMAN JOHN A GREGORY
Fireman Gregory at the age of 57 died on 30th December,
1983 whilst on duty to attend a fire. Mr Gregory joined the volunteer Service at
Fochabers on 16th January 1956, becoming a retained member when the
Unit received retained status on 16th November, 1957. He continued
serving as a retained fireman through regionalisation up until the time of his
death.
(Grampian Fire Brigade Firemaster’s Annual Report 1983. Page 8.)
Fireman from Fochabers dies at wheel of tender
A part time Fochabers fireman
died at the wheel of his fire tender on the Fochabers – Cullen road early last
night.
The tender – with five men on board – was heading to provide backup cover at
Buckie Fire Station when father of three Mr John Gregory (57), The Square,
Fochabers, collapsed.
Sub Officer Stuart Jenkins, Murrayfield, Fochabers, and another fireman grabbed
the wheel and kept the tender under control. The incident happened on a hill
about two miles from Fochabers at around 4-30 p.m.
Mr Gregory – due to retire from the Fire Service in six weeks after 28 years as
a retained fireman – was given first aid by his colleagues and taken to a
doctor’s surgery at Fochabers. He was, however, found to be dead on arrival.
Grampian’s Assistant Firemaster Ed Bushnell, who visited Mr Gregory’s family at
Fochabers last night, said: “The tender was just about a couple of miles outside
Fochabers when Mr Gregory collapsed over the wheel. The officer in charge and
one of the firemen managed to grab the steering wheel and keep the vehicle under
control. Fortunately, the engine was not moving very fast because it was
climbing uphill.
(The Press and Journal, Saturday, December 31, 1983. Page 1.)
Death
GREGORY Suddenly, at Fochabers,
on Friday, December 30, 1983, John Anderson, aged 57 years, 5 The Square,
Fochabers, beloved husband of Muriel McRobbie, dearly loved dad of William,
Irene, and John, and loving granddad of Jill, Scott, and Susan. Funeral Service
in Bellie Parish Church, Fochabers on Friday, January 6, at 1-15p.m. Thereafter
to Aberdeen Crematorium Hazlehead (East Chapel) for service at 3-30 p.m. All
friends respectively invited. No flowers please. Donations at church if desired
to Fire Service National Benevolent Fund.
(The Press and Journal, Wednesday, January 4, 1984. Page 2.)