NOTTINGHAM welcomed another royal family member yesterday – less than a month after Prince Harry's visit.
Princess Anne was invited to St Mary's Church in the Lace Market to unveil a memorial for Notts firefighters killed in their work.
Retired firefighter Dave Needham came up with the idea of a permanent memorial after interviewing firefighters who had served during the Second World War.
A committee was set up to raise the funds required.
Mr Needham said: "I feel delighted that we have achieved this. It is important for the people of Notts to remember this cause.
"Not only did they protect the people in this county but they fought huge fires in other places too."
Princess Anne, as patron of the Firefighters Memorial Trust, was invited to unveil the monument.
After laying down a wreath for the 35 men and two women who died between 1940 and 1999, the Princess Royal made her way to the Galleries of Justice to speak to their relatives.
Clifford Fardon, 77, who was there in memory of his father, also named Clifford Fardon, said: "It is wonderful but quite emotional. I was just five- years-old when my dad passed away. It is nice for them to be appreciated."
Mr Fardon, who was a member of the Auxiliary Fire Service, died in the Coventry air raid on November 14, 1940.
His granddaughter Louise Woods, 44, was also at the memorial service.
She said of her grandfather: "We are all so proud of him."
Among those being commemorated was Ruth Willis, who was the first woman from the civilian services in Nottinghamshire to die on duty, on August 28, 1940.
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service's chief fire officer, Frank Swann, said: "We hope it will never be necessary to add any more names to this memorial but there is that very sad possibility and, should it become necessary, names can be added in the future."
The monument was blessed by the Bishop of Sherwood, the Right Reverend Tony Porter.
