How to find it
It is on a boulder which is set in the small garden to the front right side of Wokingham Fire station in Reading.
Since 2017, red plaques remembering more than 50 firefighters have been placed across the UK.
Normally these plaques are placed near the scene of the incident where a firefighter lost their life. In this case it was not possible to do this so the Red Plaques are erected at the Fire Station where they had served.
Neil Goldsmith (1946-1977) Fire Fighter
David Barnes and Neil Goldsmith gave their lives in the line of duty while responding to a fire in a large builders’ merchants store in Elgar Road, Reading. on 15 September 1977. The building partially collapsed, trapping them both. Sadly, they had both died by the time they were found, with a significant fire and continuing collapse of the building hampering rescue efforts – which included the involvement of the Chief Fire Office himself.
On 20th May 2022 a Red Plaque to mark Neil Goldsmith loss was presented at Wokingham Road Fire Station. That for David Barnes was presented at Caversham Road Fire Station.
At the unveilings Chief Fire Officer Wayne Bowcock said: “I was humbled to have the privilege of attending today’s memorial ceremonies to unveil the Red Plaques. Firefighters David Barnes and Neil Goldsmith made the ultimate sacrifice that day, and now they have a permanent memorial outside the stations where they worked. “These firefighters paid the ultimate sacrifice in their service to the community and for that we must keep faith with their memory.
David and Neil both left behind a wife and two children. David had held positions in the Fire Brigades Union since he moved to Berkshire in 1966.
Members of both David’s and Neil’s families were involved with the plaque process and were present for the unveilings as were their brothers and sisters in the Fire Service and the Fire Brigade Union.
A newspaper clipping from the time (Evening Post, 16 September 1977) recounts the men being described as “ordinary men” doing the job “they loved”. It was said that “It was typical of both men that they were among the first to go into the building, neither of them was the type to stand back and let the other do the work”.
Fire Brigade Red Plaques
Red Plaques honour the bravery of Firefighters killed in the line of duty. Since 2017, red plaques remembering more than 50 firefighters have been placed across the UK. They are placed near the scene of the incident where a firefighter lost their life.
The Red Plaque Project and Firefighters 100 Lottery are administered by the Fire Brigades Union, the professional voice of firefighters in the UK.