On Saturday 9 May 2026, hundreds of firefighters and fire service supporters from across the UK, Europe and North America will gather in Essex for an act of remembrance at the National Red Plaque Fire Service Memorial, located at the Living Memorial site in Rettendon. The occasion will mark the anniversary of the Memorial’s inauguration and will bring together members of the international fire service community for a ceremony of reflection, tribute and public commemoration.
A ceremonial motorcycle procession will form a major part of the day; hundreds of members of the Red Knights International Firefighters Motorcycle Club will ride in formation to the Memorial site at Rettendon from the Grays Fire Museum. After the ceremony the motorcycle procession will ride through Chelmsford, Billericay, and Brentwood.
The ceremony itself will include a performance by the Sutherland Pipes and Drums, prayers and reflection led by retired fire service chaplain Rev. Colin Paterson, the placing of wreaths, remarks from fire service and Red Knights representatives from Britain, Europe, and North America. The new UK Fire & Rescue Services K9 Memorial for service dogs will be inaugurated at the same time in the presence of the Rt Hon Countess Bathurst.
The National Red Plaque Fire Service Memorial, which was inaugurated on Firefighters’ Memorial Day in May 2024, is a permanent place of remembrance for fire service personnel and their families. Set within the Living Memorial, it has become a focal point for reflection and tribute, and continues to draw visitors from across the UK and overseas.
