Double loss for town's fire brigade

James Coombes of Featherston. Photo / Supplied

Featherston has lost a 21-year-old rookie firefighter and a former fire chief 60 years his senior on the same day.

James Coombes, who was starting his career, and Rex Allen, a 40-year firefighting veteran, never met, but both died of cancer on Sunday.

The town's volunteer firefighters will form a guard of honour today for James, known to his mates as Big Rig for his strapping build and height, nudging 196cm.

He had been in the Wairarapa town only four years, but made a huge impression on those who knew him.

James was diagnosed a year ago with a rare renal cancer that also hit his liver.

Featherston fire chief Colin McKenna said the news of James' death, on the same day as that of the old fire chief - who spent his retirement in Palmerston North - capped off a sad day for Featherston.

"James was a fine young man and his death has been a real blow for all of us," he said.

A funeral service was held on Wednesday for Mr Allen, 81, who was a fireman in Featherston for 40 years.

He was awarded the Queen's Fire Service Medal for his long service.

At St Teresa's Church, a piper led pallbearers to the old No 1 Featherston fire engine - a Model A Ford - for Mr Allen's last trip to the fire station, as a guard of honour stood to attention.