A FORMER Worcester fire fighter who battled blaze after blaze at the height of the Blitz has died.

The funeral of Frank Fielding was held yesterday at St Martin's Church, London Road, Worcester.

He fought fires in London, Manchester and Liverpool during the Second World War in the wake of German air raids.

Mr Fielding, aged 93, of Staplow Road, off London Road, Worcester, died at his home on Monday, March 19, after developing heart and breathing problems as a result of old age.

Mr Fielding joined Blackpool Fire Brigade in 1936 and was promoted to station officer five years later. He was also made a column officer with the National Fire Service.

During the war, he fought a fire on a large merchant ship which was loaded with ammunition in Liverpool.

The ship received a direct hit and the whole harbour and docks had to be evacuated. Firefighters, including Mr Fielding, were sent on board to stop the fire spreading to the ship's explosive cargo.

Mr Fielding's friend of 53 years, former firefighter Alan Barton, aged 83, of Cotheridge, near Worcester, said: "It was an impossible task and after four hours of desperate work Frank gave the order to abandon ship. They retired to the safety of the Mersey Tunnel, where it seemed half the population of Liverpool was taking refuge.

"Minutes later, the magazine exploded. There was considerable damage to property, but miraculously, only two people were killed, in a car half a mile away.

"His dedication to the service was absolute and he loved his work. Frank was a happy family man, well liked and respected by all."

His daughter Ruth Davis, aged 67, from Stratford-upon- Avon, was with him at his bedside when he died.

She said: "He took great delight in his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved a party. He even went to a christening very recently."

During the war, Mr Fielding he was also a firefighting instructor at Whitehaven, Warrington, West Norwood in London, and Brighton Staff College, and he helped set up officer training centres.

In 1948, he was appointed deputy chief officer at Gloucester before moving in 1953 to Worcester City and County Fire Brigade, where he became divisional officer.

Firemen at this time were working up to 60 hours a week and there were only 20 people working in fire brigade HQ.

Mr Fielding's hobbies were football, cricket, swimming and golf and he was a qualified instructor for the Royal Life Saving Society.

He remained at Worcester until 1964, when he moved to Kidderminster to take control of the north division of the brigade, before he retired from the service in 1966.

After he retired he held a position at the Midlands division of the health and safety inspectorate until 1977 when he retired altogether.

He was the founder of the Worcester branch of Retired Firemen, where he was chairman for more than 20 years.

Mr Fielding married his wife Peggy in 1937. She died in 1990, the year after their daughter Susan.

They had three daughters Ruth, Lesley and Susan, nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

At the funeral, money was collected for Macmillan Nurses.