# Jackie McClelland

John "Jackie" Stephen McClelland BEM (14 October 1923 - 13 April 1981) was a firefighter and councilor from Newry, Northern Ireland who served from 1940 until he was forced to retire in 1975 after injuries sustained on the job two years prior.

## Life

Son of a World War I Veteran, McClelland grew up on St Patrick's Avenue of Newry. By age 17, he and his older brother James were working in Birmingham when the German blitz of World War II began. There, they both joined the fire service and would serve both in Birmingham and Coventry.
Upon returning to Northern Ireland, McClelland joined the Auxiliary Fire Service shortly before it was nationalized, becoming the National Fire Service. Stationed at Central Fire Station on Chichester Street in Belfast until the National Fire Service was disbanded.
Returning to his hometown, he joined the Newry Depot, which was now under the control of the Northern Ireland Fire Authority. Some of his early mentors included Tommy Lyons and Christy Hughes, along with another legendary firefighting figure Jimmy Heather. In 1965, McClelland received the Long Service medal and in 1966 made Section leader. In 1969, Jackie was promoted to Sub Officer of Newry Station. Although he never rose higher than this rank, he was often referred to as the Fire Chief of Newry – such was the respect he garnered. During the centenary celebrating 100 years of firefighting in the Newry area, it was Jackie that suggested that the new park that was being developed be named Heather Park after the legendary figure.
In 1972, McClelland was awarded a British Empire Medal by Queen Elizabeth II cited "For his courage, leadership, and devotion to duty." A year later, during the height of The Troubles, McClelland was severely injured whilst attending a callout in Newtownhamilton on 26 October 1973, when a bomb exploded in O'Malley's furniture store. He lost parts of multiple fingers and several feet of intestine and sustained holes in his bladder and injuries to his leg. He was forced to retire from active duty, and by 1975 had left the organization completely.
In 1981, McClelland died from intestinal cancer. On his death, he was described by all parties of the council chambers as "A great servant to the people, both as a Fire Officer and a Councillor but also a Newry man through and through. He was a genuine representative of the working class of Newry and worked tirelessly at great personal cost to improve the quality of life for all his constituents." A man who "throughout his life was committed to peace and reconcillation."

## Legacy

The McClelland name in the Newry and Mourne area is synonymous with firefighting and had been since its inception in 1877, with Alexander McClelland being a founding member and among the original 18 firefighters that joined the new brigade. Twelve of which, including Alex, being retained as volunteers, and the other 6, from an older organization, acting in a paid capacity. Alex was 1st Officer under Captain Robert Maginnis.
For a few years after his retirement. A trophy named the McClelland Perpertual Trophy was rewarded to the best kept and most efficient station in the Newry and Mourne Area with Rathfriland first receiving the award in 1976 and later Warrenpoint in 1977. The Eva McClelland Perpertual Trophy was handed out to the best cadet in Newry following the death of Jackie's wife as late as 2003.
Five of Jackie's six sons went on to serve in the Fire Service. His son, John, was the Chief Fire Officer of the Northern Ireland Fire Brigade from 1996 to 2002. Two of Jackie's grandsons are serving in the organization as per 2025.
in the 1990s, Dennison Commercials, a local Volvo dealer that sold and maintained the appliances for the Newry Fire Station commissioned a local artist, Cora Harrington, to paint a set of 3 paintings to be displayed in the fire station representing the different eras of firefighting in the Newry and Mourne area. Sub-Officer McClelland is depicted commanding a blaze in the picture entitled "Troubled Times," using a reference from an older photo. Two of his granddaughters also make cameo appearances watching on. Coincidentally, one of the other painting's "Sands Mill", depicts the great fire of 1910. A.R. Walker's mill, erected circa 1880, was ironically built on the former site of Robert McClelland's blacksmith's forge.
In 2002, a park in Newry on Edward Street, a short distance from both the old and new Fire Station was developed on the location of the defunct RUC base, "McClelland Park" was named in his honour.