Billy Minikin memorial

Image: © Oliver Dixon Taken: 10 Apr 2008

Billy Minikin was a Tyne and Wear firefighter who collapsed and died from a heart attack on his fourth traverse of the C2C cycle route in July 2003. The memorial stone reads "Live each day as if it was your last but dream like you will live forever". The money for the memorial was raised from a collection amongst colleagues and former colleagues as an indication of the esteem in which he was held. Members of Blue Watch, Swalwell Fire Station (Tyne and Wear) placed the stone on the exact spot that Billy died. The stone was the heaviest object they ever had to lift. There is also a Minikin room at Swalwell Fire Station in his memory. Although not fundraising himself, the father-of-three from Chopwell, Gateshead, was accompanying colleagues from Swalwell Fire Station's blue watch who were attempting to complete the ride within 24 hours for cancer research. His wife Lesley said "He was always a very healthy man, very fit and always encouraged his own kids to go to the gym. He used to cycle to work all the time. This was just a complete shock. He was just a big, strong, man who loved life and called a spade a spade. He spent hours helping the community" Around 300 family and friends attended a service in Chopwell Methodist Chapel for the firefighter who was well-known for his voluntary work. In a tribute, colleagues expressed their admiration for the "larger than life" character. A Service spokesman said: "Billy was an outstanding, professional firefighter, whose experience, knowledge and determination to get the job done had a major influence upon the watch." Tyne and Wear's deputy chief fire officer Alan Holmes praised Billy's commitment "From when he first joined the service, Billy was an outstanding firefighter. His commitment and enthusiasm was an example to everyone." A colleague Peter Hudson recently paid this tribute "A real character and eccentric, no angel or saint but gave practical help to many people both as a firefighter and to the community.I still laugh thinking of the things he said and did."

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