John Eamon McClelland (6 June 1951 - 6 November 2022) was a firefighter and later Deacon from Newry, Northern Ireland who served in the fire service from 1968 until his retirement in 2002 and was acting Chief Fire Officer of Northern Ireland Fire Brigade from 1996 to 2002. He also served as President of St. John's Ambulance and as the chair of governors for St' Mary's High School.[1]
John Eamon McClelland | |
|---|---|
 John McClelland in office | |
| Born | John Eamon McClelland June 6, 1951 |
| Died | November 6, 2022 (aged 71) Newry |
| Occupation(s) | Firefighter, Deacon |
| Title | Chief Fire Officer |
| Term | 1996-2002 |
| Predecessor | Stephen Walker |
| Successor | Colin Lammey |
| Parent(s) | John "Jackie" McClelland, Ave Maria Cochrane |
Life
editMcClelland attended St. Colman's Abbey Primary School and then the Abbey Grammar School. He joined the fire brigade in 1968 at age 17 at the height of the troubles alongside his father, Jackie McClelland[2] and his older brother. As the years went by he would be followed by three younger brothers.
Working his way up through the force, he served as head of brigade training before in 1995 becoming Deputy Fire Chief. With the passing of, Stephen Walker, John was promoted to Chief Fire Officer in 1996 where he served until his retirement in 2002.[3][4]
In 2017, John became the first permanent deacon in the Newry Parish.[5]
He died in 2022 after a battle with cancer.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Board of Governors". St Mary's, Newry. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "Tribute to the late Deacon John McClelland | Newry Cathedral Parish". newrycathedralparish.org. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ "New fire chief for Northern Ireland". 17 August 1996. Retrieved 9 January 2024 – via www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk.
- ^ NIFRS/NIFB Fire Watch. BBC. 2002.
- ^ O'Hare, Columba (5 June 2017). "Former Fire Fighter is First Permanent Deacon in Newry Parish". Newry.ie. Retrieved 9 January 2024.
- ^ Member, Staff (7 November 2022). "The death has occurred of Rev Deacon John McClelland (Newry)". Armagh I. Retrieved 9 January 2024.