Funeral of former manager at Warrington Fire Station (From This Is Cheshire)

Funeral of former manager at Warrington Fire Station

9:27am Tuesday 9th March 2010

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A VINTAGE fire engine will lead a funeral procession for a retired firefighter who died at aged 87.

Cheshire Fire Service will provide a vintage vehicle to lead the way to Walton Crematorium for the funeral of Kenneth Coleman, a former Warrington Fire Station manager.

Mr Coleman, known as Henry by his colleagues in the town, died at his St Bridget’s Close, Fearnhead, home last Monday, March 1, from ischemic heart disease.

Denis Coleman, Mr Coleman’s son, said his dad joined Leeds Fire Brigade after working as a signaller for the Royal Navy Minesweeper.

During the war he was involved in the North Atlantic and far east approaches, then later worked around Burma and Singapore.

He joined the fire service after contemplating joining the Singapore Police force.

He later moved from his home town of Halifax to Warrington after securing a job promotion.

Mr Coleman (junior) said: “He lived and breathed being a firefighter. It was just his thing. I was even called Denis after Dennis the fire engine manufacturer (formerly Dennis Specialist Vehicles).”

He said his dad was given the nickname Henry by work friends because a man named Henry Coleman used to work for the service in Warrington.

Mr Coleman said his dad received an award from the Royal Humane Society for his bravery when he rescued a bull which had got stuck in a ditch when the River Mersey tide was coming in at the Manchester Ship Canal, in Thelwall.

After 30 years of service, Mr Coleman retired from the Winwick Road based fire station and became a court officer.

During his employment he was heavily involved with Scout groups including groups in Padgate, Orford and one attached to St Margaret’s Church, Orford. He proudly upheld the role as Arkala for many years.

He was also involved with the town’s twinning group with German town, Hilden.

Mr Coleman said: “He liked the Scouts because he liked to give back to the community. Even though his job was 24/7 we always did things together as a family. We would always go camping or cavervanning.

“He was a hard working family man. He had never been unemployed in his life. As well as being a fireman in Leeds and York he had a window cleaning round because they didn’t pay much.”

He said his dad also liked to travel and had been to Hong Kong.

He was married to Joyce, who died in 1988, for 43 years. They had their children Diane, Denis and Douglas together.

Mr Coleman (senior) leaves his wife Ruth, his children, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A funeral to mark Mr Coleman’s life will take place at Walton Crematorium at 2pm tomorrow, Friday.

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