FIREMAN Sam kept a red hot date with scores of his adoring young fans at the Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre in Wrexham.
Even before the legendary firefighter from Pontypandy arrived to deliver his Bonfire Night safety message, hundreds of children with their parents queued the length of the busy centre waiting for the chance to meet him.
Fireman Sam –Sam Tân in Welsh – teamed up with his real life counterparts from North Wales Fire & Rescue Service, who turned up on one of their gleaming fire engines, to get over the vital message that staying well away from danger is so important when coming close to fireworks and bonfires around November 5.
Among those lucky enough to meet Sam was four-year-old Louis Parsonage who had been waiting patiently in line with his mum, Mary Parsonage, of Caergwrle for around half an hour.
Mary said: “Louis is a massive fan of Sam’s and has been ever since he was old enough to watch TV.
“He knows everything about him and the rest of the firemen in Pontypandy and all the things they get up.
“We heard that Sam was coming to Eagles Meadow and Louis just had to be here to see him.”
Louis himself said: “I met Sam and shook hands with him. I really like him and see all his adventures, so it was great to meet him.”
Five-year-old Amelia Wallis of Buckley was also happy to wait in the queue for the chance to meet Sam face to face.
She eventually got to shake hands with him and also introduced him to her baby twin brothers, Mason and Alfie Pownall. At just six months they were possibly a little young to chat with Sam but he was delighted to pose for a picture with them both.
Amelia told him that she had all his Fireman Sam toys, including the fire engine and helicopter he uses to battle blazes around his famous home town.
Gary Sheppard brought along his two-year-old son Konner from Coedpoeth for a thrilling appointment with Sam.
As his son shook hands with the superstar guest Gary said: “Konner absolutely loves Sam and collects all the toys with his name on them.
“The queue to meet him was enormous and we were waiting in it for about 45 minutes but Konner didn’t seem to care one bit as long as he could meet Sam.
“I think it’s great that he has come to Eagles Meadow in person to see all his fans. Konner is very happy now.”
Ellis-Morgan Quinn, aged three, who was there with hus mum Samantha from Buckley, said after meeting Sam: “I really like him because he has a great fire engine and puts out all the fires.
“I always watch him on TV and I’ve got all his toys. It’s my birthday soon and I hope I’ll be getting some more of them!”
Running round in circles of pure delight after speaking to Sam was three-year-old Harry Matthews, of Hightown, Wrexham, who was there with his mum, Hayley.
Hayley said: “Harry just adores Sam and couldn’t wait to get down to the centre to see him.
“Harry has everything branded Fireman Sam and getting the chance to meet him today has just been great for him.”
“I really like Sam because he has a fire engine and I really enjoyed meeting him,” said an overjoyed Harry.
While Sam was meeting and greeting his fans at one end of Eagles Meadow, a crew of five firefighters from Red Watch at the Wrexham station were at the opposite end of the centre attracting a queue of kids and parents of their own.
They brought along one of their fire engines, bristling with all the latest equipment, for youngsters to see at close quarters – and climb aboard.
The firefighters also ran a special firework and bonfire safety quiz and all those taking part received a special prize.
Red Watch commander Tim Owen said: “We were delighted to come over to Eagles Meadow today, especially as our visit coincided with an appearance by Fireman Sam, who is everyone’s hero.
“We’ve been letting the kids have a good look inside the fire engine and members of the crew have been telling them how everything works. We’ve also been giving them the chance to try on one of the helmets we wear when fighting fires.”
He added: “We like to get out and about to meet the public and tell them what we do, so it was good to have the opportunity to come along to Eagles Meadow and get over some basic safety tips just before Bonfire Night.
“The main message we have been trying to get over today is that we want people to stay safe and it is always better for people to attend a properly organised fireworks display or bonfire.
“That’s for a number of reasons – it’s the best value for money, you get a better view of the action and it’s far safer than going to a fire or display in someone’s garden or out in the street.
“If people can’t get to an organised display and are doing their own, they should always follow the Firework Code and, most importantly, not drink.
“It’s important to stress that alcohol and fireworks just do not mix.
“More information of the Firework Code, general hints about staying safe on Bonfire Night and a full list of local community bonfire and firework events is available on the North Wales Fire & Rescue Service website at www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk.”
Fireman Sam is the central character of an animated children’s TV series about the firefighting team and other townspeople in a fictional rural town in the South Wales valleys.
The original idea for the show came from two ex-firemen from Kent, Dave Gingell and Dave Jones, and was created for the TV screen 30 years ago by young Welsh writer Nia Ceidiog, who hails from Wrexham.
Now now a highly successful producer of children’s programmes, Nia continued to write the scripts – in Welsh and English – for many years.
The original shows are still being shown across the world and continue to be popular with young viewers.
There has since been a new Fireman Sam TV series and there are also games, vidoes and other activities.
Nia said: “I think it’s fantastic that Sam is also still doing his rounds in person and that he went along to Eagles Meadow to spread the word about fire safety in advance of Bonfire Night.”
