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Video: Thanksgiving service marks 25 years since York Minster blaze
SEVERAL hundred people who were involved in saving York Minster after fire devasted the historic building 25 years ago today gathered for a public service of thanksgiving.
A lightning strike on July 9 1984 is thought to have caused the fire which ripped through the South Transept, causing horrendous damage.
Around 150 firefighters from across North Yorkshire spent several hours battling the blaze but the fire destroyed the roof and severely damaged the famous Rose Window.
It took four years to complete the repairs.
The senior firefighter in charge of tackling the blaze was among those who attended today's service.
Peter Wright, who was in charge of Red Watch on the night of the fire and one of the first firefighters on the scene, spoke of his relief the building was saved.
Speaking after today's 40-minute service, Mr Wright said: "I'm very proud of my men, very proud of Red Watch. I have nothing but admiration for them. My job was reasonably easy because I just had to be the officer in charge and I gave a few orders.
"They (the firefighters) actually scaled the outside of the Minster, they actually hauled their ladders up, their hoses up, they actually had to fight the fire, whereas I could actually move around the Minster and see different things which they hadn't seen.
"The Minster is such a beautiful building that it would have been a pity for it to burn down and I think the reason it didn't burn down was the pride of the men who belong to York who said in their minds, this was their fire and they were going to put it out.
"We didn't want the rest of the world to remember us as the people who let York Minster burn down, otherwise we would have had to emigrate."
The Minster is considered one of Europe's finest Gothic buildings and parts of the cathedral date from the 13th century.
Everyone involved in saving York Minster on the night, or in its four-year restoration programme, was invited to the cathedral for the public service and a 'bring your own lunch' picnic held afterwards in nearby grounds.
The Dean of York Minster, the Very Reverend Keith Jones, said the restoration programme had produced a "beautiful and fitting" roof which was once again admired throughout the world.
He said the fire "meant that people all over the country realised how much York Minster meant to them."
Do you remember the blaze? Did you watch it or were you one of those who helped combat the fire? Sign in or register to have your say.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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