Memorial bench to honour Wiltshire firefighter killed responding to emergency call
Honour for firefighter killed in 999 call in Pewsey
A memorial bench will be unveiled to honour a firefighter from Wiltshire, who tragically lost his life in October 2023 while responding to a 999 call.
Mark Hillier, 47, who served as a watch manager, was killed in a car crash as he was heading to Pewsey fire station. Hillier collided with a BMW while driving his Suzuki Grand Vitara and succumbed to head injuries shortly after the incident.
An inquest concluded that Hillier might have survived the accident had he been wearing a seatbelt at the time.
The memorial bench will be placed outside the Pewsey fire station and is set to be unveiled on Monday, 21st September. The bench bears the inscription: “In loving memory of Mark Hillier” and features his nickname “Sparksy” along with his motto “First in, last out. Forever our hero.”
Mark's family, the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire Dame Sarah Troughton, and Andy Cole, head of Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, are expected to attend the ceremony. Large crowds are anticipated, reminiscent of the funeral procession in December 2023 which saw firefighters and hundreds of mourners accompany Hillier’s journey from the fire station to St John the Baptist church.
The unveiling serves as a tribute to Hillier’s dedication and the impact he made during his career in fire and rescue services.