Blaina Fire Crew in Action at Asdas, Brynmawr

Ty Curtis selling poppies for the Royal British Legion

Did that title grab your attention?  It was meant to.

But on this occasion I am pleased to say that this time Blaina Fire Crew were not fighting to save someone's life, but rather their own jobs, and with those jobs the honour to continue to defend the property and people of Nantyglo and Blaina, who they have served so well in the past.

Before you look at the following images, please take the time to check out the top image, that is of Ty Curtis of the Royal British Legion who was already doing his bit for the community by selling poppies on a Sunday.  Well done Ty Curtis, another good old Coed-Cae boy like myself.

Get ready boys to meet your public

Fair play for Blaina Fire Crew, as soon as they arrived and with lots of things on their minds, they were all buying and wearing poppies before they started to solicit support from passing members of the public.

Right boys, let's see what support we have.  Lots my friend lots.

Tell you what, it is a curse having to tell the truth about men you admire but my job is to report and so I must.

When you check out the images of the men in them, you will see them smiling and laughing, rest assured, inside they are hurting like hell, that the Fire Service they worship and would die for appears to be betraying their years of dedication, professionalism and self sacrifice.

These are real men, real firefighters, unlike some in the highest levels of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service who have succeeded only because of an ability to count beans instead of lives.

Out of the way Paul, we have work to do - then a big grin

The response from the public was truly amazing and must have lifted the hearts of the men of Blaina Fire Crew who watched as people queued to get at them to fill in the forms they were handing out.  It raised my spirits that's for sure.

"Brutus" with Donna, who was a little girl when I first met her - now she is a mother

As to be expected in a real community like ours, many of the people were known to the Fire Crew, which probably accounts for why Blaina Fire Station has an unbeatable availability record of 100%, because they are not just defending the lives of the public, they are defending the lives of their family, friends and neighbours.  They truly are a community Fire Station.  Fight to keep it.

Former Welsh International Nigel Meek - all business with the men

Well in the short time I stayed with our Fire Crew, they must have almost got through their entire stock of survey forms and as one of the crew pointed out to me, the days action was proving more profitable than knocking on doors which was very time consuming.  Another campaign lesson learned.

And big smiles for the ladies - this guy is as bad as me

Now I have had some defeatist type people come up to me and say, "Your wasting your time, if they want to close Blaina, they will" and I am disappointed in those kind of comments because I know that when the Welsh Valley People start to fight, you cannot stop them, especially if their cause is just, and ours is.

Must be something about Our Firefighters that attracts the ladies

Besides, my research has revealed numerous fire stations around the United Kingdom who have fought off plans to close them, one of them has seen off three attempts and is now fighting off the fourth closure proposal since 1992.  Now that is some campaign but we of Blaina will fight just as long, if necessary.

Don't know why, but I really like this image so saved it till last

Well I had better get a move on, our video script will not write itself.

Blaina Fire Station - Simply The Best