Ewan Williamson: 'This honour is fully justified and deserved'

Published on Tuesday 10 November 2009 08:31

WHEN the Evening News launched a campaign to honour firefighter Ewan Williamson it was in response to an overwhelming reaction to his death in a blaze in July.

The terrible accident at the Balmoral bar meant the city had lost a genuine hero. To us, it seemed only right that Ewan's valour be formally recognised. In doing so, we hoped the bravery of all emergency workers would be noted.

We clearly touched a nerve – more than 3,000 people signed our petition for Ewan to be posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.

Backers as diverse as Lord Provost George Grubb, Glasgow Airport hero John Smeaton, actor Ross Kemp and the officials and fans of Hibs and Hearts gave their support.

The parents of Fleur Lombard, awarded the QGM after becoming the first female firefighter to die on duty, also offered backing. The most important blessing of all came from Ewan's colleagues and his family.

Politicians of all parties have been supportive too, and Alistair Darling – whose Edinburgh South West constituency includes the Balmoral – was one of the first to join the campaign.

That the Chancellor of the Exchequer now has taken time out to formally nominate Ewan shows just how much the 35-year-old's death has touched the Capital and the nation.

The nomination is now with honours system officials, who will investigate Ewan's heroism before making a recommendation to the honours committee and the Queen. But every News article on the subject, and every reader's signature on our petition, will be used to help make the case.

Ewan's QGM isn't yet in the bag. But we find it hard to believe Her Majesty won't agree that the honour is fully justified and deserved.

Powerful arguments

THE UK Government yesterday revealed ten possible sites for new nuclear power stations. As expected, none is in Scotland.

This will please those whose views haven't changed since the days of "Nuclear Power? No Thanks!".

But the industry has moved on since power started coming out of Dounreay 50 years ago. It is safer and cleaner, and thousands of Scots have earned a living at plants like Torness. Millions more depend on it for their energy needs.

There are no new sites north of the Border largely because the SNP remains stubbornly opposed to nuclear power. It is a principled stance – but it risks a future power gap and could leave Scotland overly dependent on imports from unreliable sources.