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In memory of
Reginald William Perkins
May 27, 1935 - May 24, 2004
May 27, 1935 - May 24, 2004
Photo
Reginald's obituary
BC Fire Commisioner, Retired
Firefighters's Prayer
When I'm called to duty God wherever flames may be
Give me the strength to save a life whatever age it be
Help me embrace a little child before its too late
Or save an older person from the horror of that fate
Enable me to be alert and hear the weakest shout
And quickly and effeciently to put the fire out
I want to fill my calling and to give the best in me
To guard my every neighbor and protect their property
And if according to your will I should lose my life
Please bless with your protective hand
My children and my wife
REG PERKINS
Born May 27th 1935
London, England
Passed Away May 24th, 2004
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
At the age of 68 years
No Funeral Services
Cremated May 26th, 2004
PERSONAL ALTERNATIVE FUNERAL SERVICES
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
ashes to be scattered
Memorial Tea will be held for Friends and Family
June 16th 2004 4:00pm
Calgary, Alberta
My father, named Reginald William Perkins at birth, grew up in a typical British family that consisted of his parents; Albert Joseph Perkins and Alice Harriet Perkins (nee Robinson), his older sister Voilet and an older brother named Ronald. During the war(s) his mother also raised several of her own siblings, so the family home was busy.
My father's calling to the fire service likely began as a five year old in London during the battle of Britain. Although he had originally been evacuated with the other children a year previously the placement in Wales hadn't worked out and his mom eventually brought him home. This meant he was taught how to put out incidenary fires in the very streets where he lived, and as London was bombed day and night (my father did write an account of his memory of this, which I will post below for the curious), my father discovered his courage and sense of duty.
He delivered newspapers as his first job and during the late 1940's/early 1950's served in the British Army Cadet Force, where he earned the top national awards for both rifleman and sniper shooting, and subsequently was recruited into the Regular Forces. Attached to an S.A.S. unit as a sniper he was sent to Korea in 1953.
After the end of the Korean War my father was stationed in Gibraltar, where he had the honour of being chosen by Prince Phillip himself as his regular driver. He also had the opportunity to do some work on Cyprus at the time, but I am not too sure what all that entailed. My father served in the British Army for four years until 1957.
For a few years after that my dad worked in the print industry and raced motorbikes (Nortons) until he was inspired to join the London Fire Brigade in 1961. Fire fighting had long been in my father's heart, and once he had become a fire fighter, his spirit remained dedicated.
My father immigrated to Canada in 1968 with my mother, Sandie Christina Perkins (nee Glanfield), shortly after they were married. They entered Canada via Vancouver but lived first in Burnaby where my father's extended family had already settled. My father worked briefly at several places, including the University of British Columbia Endowment Lands Fire Department, before becoming a Fire Marshall with the BC Fire Marshall's Office in 1971. He recieved his Canadian citizenship in 1974.
My father's 1979 appointment as BC's first regional fire commissioner launched a pilot program that was very successful under his supervision and was expanded province-wide within the next four years. For the next 7 years a total of five Regional Fire Commissioners operated in the province of BC.
My father also worked intimately within provincial politics and closely with the Attorney General, and it was often suggested he leave his office to become the deputy minister. At heart my father felt his calling had always been in the fire service and as such he resisted the temptation.
My father had the first of many strokes in 1990 and retired shortly there afterwards, in 1991.
Upon his retirement my father received several awards, the most notable being the Exemplary Fire Service Medal, a Canadian Decoration, presented by then Governor General Ramon Hnatyshyn.
My dad enjoyed volunteering his time in his community and the organization he gave the most of it to was Scouts Canada. My father volunteered in many capacities for this organization over the period of 15 years, including serving for years as Islands Region President and sitting on the BC Provincial Council.
Awards and Citations
Exemplary Fire Service Medal
International Association of Arson Investigators Certificate of Merit
Certificate of Recognition from Insurance Crime Prevention Bureau
Award of Appreciation from Vancouver Island Fire Fighter's Association
Award of Appreciation from the BC Fire Service
PERKINS: On Monday, May 24th, 2004, Reginald (Reg) William Perkins of Calgary, Alberta (formerly of Nanaimo, British Columbia) passed away at the age of 68 years, in Palliative Care, with family by his side. Reg retired in 1991 as BC Fire Commissioner and was honored as an outstanding professional in the fire service. He will be remembered for his dedication to his community, his sense of humour and his devotion to his family. Reg is survived by his wife, Sandie Perkins; his daughter Allie Smyth and her spouse Duncan Wojtaszek; his son Chris Perkins; his grandchildren, Wesley and Raven Smyth; his sister Violet Bentley; his neice Denise Meyer, and her children Todd and Jessica Meyer; and loving friends. He was predeceased by his brother, Ronald Perkins, who died in 1996, and his parents. Friends and family will be received on June 16th 2004 in Calgary, Alberta, for a Memorial Tea. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in Reg's memory to Scouts Canada, 1345 Baseline Road, Ottawa, Ontario, K2C 0A7 or online at Scouts.ca.
Special Thanks to Personal Alternative Funeral Services, Unit 71, the ICU & the Palliative Care Wards at the Rocky View General Hospital in Calgary, Alberta
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Created with love by
Allie Wojtaszek.
