Former firefighter from Harold Hill celebrates 100th birthday

Ernie celebrated his 100th birthday last Monday (credit: Paul Wood)

Firefighters in Harold Hill have helped a retired officer celebrate his 100th birthday.

Ernie Cock reached the landmark last Monday and crews from his local station joined in with the celebrations at a local park.

They presented him a letter of congratulations from Brigade Commissioner Andy Roe and a personalised LFB work shirt, giving him a guard of honour as he walked from his home to the birthday party across the road.

#HaroldHill firefighters surprised retired Sub Officer, Ernie Cock, as he celebrated his 100th birthday. Ernie was given a bespoke LFB shirt and an old turntable ladder turned up with F22 call sign of #Poplar fire station where he spent most of his career © @PaulWood1961 pic.twitter.com/so64e7AQH3

— London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) August 24, 2020

They surprised him by bringing along an old fire engine with its original turntable ladder attached, used at Poplar fire station at the time Ernie worked there. 

Sub-Officer Jim Tumini said: “It was a good day, and very emotional, just to see his face and his reaction to the turntable ladder he used to work on.”

Ernie spent 28 years working for London Fire Brigade. He had stints at Whitefriars, Rotherhithe, Bromley, and then Poplar, where he ended his career.

Firefighters giving Ernie a guard of honour as he made his way to his birthday party (credit: Jim Tumini)

He first met the firefighters from Harold Hill station when they visited his home to carry out a fire safety visit.

They noticed firefighting memorabilia around his home and began inviting him to social events at Harold Hill station and also visited him at home regularly.

During lockdown, Jim and his colleagues continued to check in with Ernie throughout.

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