Sub Officer was John Rowan Killed in RTA on way to a chimney fire in Cumnock on 23rd February, 1966.
It is with sincere regret that I record the death of the following member of the Brigade:-
Attributed to Service
Retained Sub Officer John L. Rowan, Officer in Charge, New Cumnock, 39 years of age. Killed instantaneously when fire appliance was destroyed in a road crash in Skerrington Road, Cumnock, at 18-50 hours on 23rd February, 1966. The remaining five members of the crew were injured.
(South Western Area Fire Brigade, The Firemaster’s Annual Report 1966. Page 6.)
FIRE OFFICER KILLED ON WAY TO BLAZE
One man was killed and six injured when a fire tender – on its way to a chimney blaze – and a lorry were involved in a head on collision in Cumnock on Wednesday.
The man who died was Sub Officer John Rowan (38), 66 Pathhead, New Cumnock, of the recently formed part time fire brigade at New Cumnock.
Five of the injured – Frank Daziel, 90 Dalhanna Drive: Francis Farrow, 25 Lime Road: John McNeish, 45 Glenafton Drive: Richard Capstick, 33 Hamilton Drive and John Houston, 21 Cairnhill Place, all of New Cumnock – were members of the brigade and the sixth man was the lorry driver, Mr C Murray employed by an Ayr transport company.
The crash, which happened near Cumnock Fire Station, disintigrated the tender and the impact rattled windows and smashed dishes in nearby homes.
First to reach the scene was Mr Alex Russell, manager of the Thistle Inn. When he heard the crash he ran out with a fire extinguisher and soon a crowd of people were pulling at the wreckage to try to free the trapped men.
Mr Daziel and Mr Farrow were pulled clear and rushed to Ballochmyle Hospital. The other firemen and the lorry driver were taken to Ayr County Hospital.
(The Ayrshire Post, February 25, 1966. Page 17.)
Fireman Killed – Five Injured in Crash on Way to fight Chimney Blaze
<PHOTO> (of wrecked GLE24) A fireman was killed and five were injured when this fire tender from New Cumnock collided with a lorry at Skerrington, Cumnock, on Wednesday night whilst answering a call to a chimney fire at the Baird Institute, Lugar Street. The man who died was John Rowan (38), Pathhead, New Cumnock, a well known local electrician, who was also a Sub officer with the New Cumnock brigade. He leaves a wife and family of four with ages ranging from seven months to ten years. Mrs Rowan was at a school concert in New Cumnock Community Centre when told of the tragedy by police. Mr Rowan had hurried from his home leaving a baby sitter to look after the children, when the alarm call came.
The crash happened almost outside the Thistle Inn and the fire engine was almost completely disintegrated in the head on crash. After the accident, rescuers rushed to clear the wreckage and free the injured firemen. Petrol fumes filled the air, and traffic was held up for three hours before the fire engine and lorry could be shifted to the roadside. So great was the impact that the crash could be heard a quarter of a mile away. It took nearly an hour to free two of the trapped firemen.
Cloud of Steam
The manager of the Thistle Inn, Mr Alex. Russell, heard the crash and looked out to see the wrecked vehicles enveloped in a cloud of steam.
The injured men were removed to hospital at Ayr County and Ballochmyle. They were Frank Dalziel, painter, Dalhanna Drive, Francis Farrow (40), building worker, Lime Road (both in Ballochmyle Hospital), John M’Nish (20), Glanafton Drive, Richard Capstick, lorry driver, Hamilton Drive, and John Houston, Cairnhill Place (all treated at Ayr County Hospital). Mr Dalziel was driving the fire tender.
The lorry driver was Mr C. Murray, employed by Messrs Oswald Transport, Ayr. He, too, was taken to Ayr County Hospital. The lorry was taking a load of steel forgings from Ayr to Birmingham.
It is understood, from a reconstruction of the accident by witnesses, that the lorry was proceeding towards New Cumnock and the fire tender was approaching Cumnock; the tender pulled out to pass a parked vehicle at the side of the road and this was when the accident occurred.
Only Minor Fire
A check with the caretaker of the Baird Institute revealed that the fire was “only a minor one,” which started in the boilerhouse at the rear of the building. A passer-by saw flames coming from the chimney and put in a 999 call for a fire brigade. On Thursday morning it was reported that “little damage was done” as a result of the outbreak.
A call to Fire Headquarters at Ayr revealed that, due to New Cumnock being a newly operational station, they were called upon to cover all fires in the Cumnock district along with the Cumnock Fire Brigade “to gain further experience.” It was the Cumnock Brigade which actually dealt with the outbreak at the Baird Institute and they had little difficulty in extinguishing the fire.
Well-known Singer
<PHOTO> Mr JOHN ROWAN
Mr Rowan, of 66 Pathhead, New Cumnock, was a well known tenor who took part in many musical festivals and who sang at various Burns suppers, concerts, etc., in this district. He was the owner of an electrical business at the Castle. His wife, Chrissie Cunningham, is a New Cumnock lady. It is understood that two of their four sons were taking part in the concert which Mrs Rowan was attending at the Community Centre when the tragedy occurred.
Hospital Records
A call to Ballochmyle Hospital on Thursday revealed that Mr Farrow was suffering from rib injuries and was said to be “comfortable.” Mr Dalziel, who had rib and nose injuries, was described as “improving.” At Ayr County Hospital we learned that Mr Houston was allowed home on Wednesday evening, the other two firemen being kept in the hospital. Both were said to be “satisfactory” though the extent of their injuries was not revealed.
(The Cumnock Chronicle, February 25, 1966. Page 3.)
DEAD FIREMAN HONOURED
On Saturday, the towns-people honoured Sub Officer John Rowan of the local fire service unit, who was killed when the fire tender collided with a lorry at Cumnock last Wednesday. Mr Rowan was laid to rest at Afton Cemetery, the Rev. D. C. Macpherson officiating.
The funeral was attended by hundreds of local people and, as a mark of respect for their fellow trader, all shops in the Castle closed at half past twelve. Representatives of all religious denominations attended the funeral and Ayr County Council, Cumnock District Council and Cumnock Town Council were represented. Also in attendance were a number of singers who had joined with Mr Rowan at various functions around the district.
Local ambulance, police and fire service officials and personnel were represented and, on Tuesday morning, Provost M’Turk of Cumnock received the following letter from Mr H. R. Mackay, O.B.E., South Western Area Fire Brigade Firemaster :-
“The members and officials of the South Western Area Fire Brigade were deeply shocked at the death of Sub Officer J. Rowan and at the injury to other members of the crew of the Fire Service Unit at New Cumnock.
At the funeral, at New Cumnock, on Saturday last, there was a large representation of Fire Brigade personnel including the chairman of the South Western Fire Area Joint Board, bailie M’Aulay.
I am pleased to say that two additional members, John M’Nish and Richard Capstick, were allowed home on Saturday. The remaining two members, Leading Fireman Farrow and Fireman Dalziel, are making satisfactory progress towards full recovery in Ballochmyle Hospital.
(The Cumnock Chronicle, March 4, 1966. Page 14.)
Deaths
ROWAN On 23rd February, 1966 (the result of a road accident), John Livingston Rowan (electrical engineer), dearly beloved husband of Christina Cunningham, 66 Pathhead, New Cumnock. Funeral Saturday, 26th inst., to Afton Cemetery, New Cumnock. Friends wishing to attend meet cortege at Cemetery gates at 12-50.
(The Cumnock Chronicle, February 25, 1966. Page 4.)
John Rowan is buried in the Afton Cemetery Extension in Lair 498.