A CITY MOURNS; Streets fall silent for hero fireman Ewan's funeral.

Byline: MAGGIE BARRY

FIREFIGHTERS came in their hundreds yesterday to pay their tearful respects to a fallen comrade.

And the city of Edinburgh, normally bustling with summer tourists, fell silent as a lone piper led a fire engine bearing a coffin down the Royal Mile.

The public lined the streets in their thousands in a torrential downpour to acknowledge the bravery of Ewan Williamson and of the whole fire service.

When the engine carrying Ewan finally halted at St Giles' Cathedral, his colleagues from Green Watch grimly took his casket on their shoulders and carried him inside.

In a moving eulogy at the cathedral Lord Provost of Edinburgh George Grubb said: "Ewan Williamson lost his life fighting a fire in the city - and he lost it on our behalf.

"Edinburgh mourns him but it also gives thanks that one of its own firefighters gave his life in the service of others."

The fire engine had started its journey at Tollcross, where Ewan was based. Ranked rows of firefighters then fell in behind and escorted it to the cathedral, where his devastated family and friends waited. They included his mother Linda, sisters Rachael and Rebecca and girlfriend Lynsey Baird.

In a family statement released earlier they said: "Ewan had a wonderful spirit, a smile that would light up a football field and a witty sense of humour.

"He leaves a huge hole in our hearts and will be deeply missed, and never forgotten."

"He loved the Fire Service. We would ask that the public remember members of the service who risk their lives every day."

Ewan, 35, was killed last week when a burning floor collapsed as he tackled a bar blaze. He should not have been on duty when he died in the blaze at Dalry's Balmoral Bar on July 12, but was covering for a colleague.

CAPTION(S):

SACRIFICE Brave Ewan RESPECTS Public look on quietly as piper leads cortege TEARS Distraught firefighters weep outside cathedral REST IN PEACE Colleagues from watch carry coffin yesterday