Posted By CHRISTINE ENDICOTT , R & T STAFF WRITER
Hundreds of members of the public and more than 120 firefighters, police officers and ambulance workers lined Centre Street on Wednesday afternoon to salute the ashes of Prescott Fire Chief Bill Lawrence en route to a lighthearted funeral at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.
"It was a fitting farewell," said Prescott firefighter Paul Arcand, who along with Capt. Brent Norton, gave a humorous and touching eulogy on behalf of Prescott firefighters.
Lawrence, 59, died of cancer early Saturday morning at home, surrounded by his wife Karen and sons, Justin and Tyler.
"We had a few laughs -there was no sobby farewell," Arcand said after the service. "That's the way Bill would have wanted it. ... He was always laughing and joking. He wouldn't have wanted anyone crying over him."
Arcand said the Prescott firefighters were pleased with the strong spring-like sunshine and large turnout of area firefighters, police and emergency workers to pay their respects.
The procession began just before 1:30 p.m., when the Prescott Fire Department's new aerial ladder truck made its way past saluting emergency workers from Brockville, Merrickville, Kemptville, Athens, Iroquois, Augusta, Front of Yonge, Edwardsburgh-Cardinal, other parts of Leeds-Grenville and Morristown, N.Y., which the Prescott department formed a friendship with under Lawrence's leadership.
Prescott firefighters in uniform marched behind the truck. When they entered the church, Norton carried Chief Lawrence's new coat, while Arcand held the chief's hat.
They were followed by Kevin Crosby of the Morristown depart-m
ent and Prescott firefighter George Prosser, both carrying axes.
A bagpiper led the honour guard inside, where Rev. Ian MacLean spoke to hundreds of mourners, with the church so full that people stood along all walls and jammed entrances.
"We rejoice in the love and friendship we shared with him," Rev. MacLean said. "He was always the first one on the scene."I know he was a very passionate person....He loved going out to fires at three in the morning."
Lawrence served on the department for 38 years, the last 24 as chief. When he first started as a firefighter, the equipment was more basic, the minister said.
"You hoped and prayed that the water would put out the fire."
Four decades later, the Prescott Fire Department has a wide range of professional equipment, including "the beautiful aerial truck Bill worked so hard to get," MacLean said.
While firefighting has evolved, "some things haven't changed... death is inevitable," he added. "We say goodbye today to a son, a father, a husband, a mentor.... We come to pay our respects and our love."
"Fire Chief William Bill Lawrence has answered his last alarm," said Edwardsburgh-Cardinal Fire Chief Jim Grant. "We were privileged to have him as a friend to help us out."
Grant called Lawrence "a great neighbour, a true friend and an ambassador for Prescott."
Lawrence's passion for the town and well-known criticism of town leaders who did not sufficiently support the department earned him the moniker of "Mayor Bill" among townspeople.
He was well-known for fighting for what the department needed, as well as instilling professionalism and pride among the firefighters.
"The community of Prescott has lost a great fire chief and all of us have lost a great comrade and friend," said Grant, who is also the chaplain for Leeds-Grenville Mutual Aid.
"Prescott and area is a better place because of Bill Lawrence," said Norton.
Lawrence became a Prescott volunteer firefighter in 1972, the same year he began working for the public utilities commission, now called Rideau-St. Lawrence Distribution. He became fire chief in 1986 and remained the department's leader until his death Saturday.
Norton quoted Lawrence as saying, "A firefighter is someone who is not afraid to take a calculated risk" and fights fires "for the pure love of doing it."
The chief had a great sense of humour and loved to pull pranks, Norton said.
He told a story of when Lawrence, challenged to a fight by a kick-boxing champion, called himself a "shovel-fighting champion."
Although the fight never occurred, the humorous legend lived on, and Norton and Arcand brought a shovel to the funeral as a joke.
Norton said Lawrence was a tireless worker, perfectionist, outdoorsman and a compassionate person who always loved to help others without fanfare.
The fire chief often bought coffees for military personnel he encountered at Tim Hortons "to say thank you," Norton said.
Arcand told Lawrence's sons and other loved ones that "Bill was proud of you," while to Lawrence's wife, Karen, he said, "Your caring and hard work don't go unnoticed."
Arcand ended the funeral the same way Lawrence ended fire department meetings. He pounded a few times, then called out, "That's enough, boys. Meeting adjourned."
cendicott@recorder.ca