Firefighter tribute at Gipton’s Old Fire Station as plaque set for Dark Arches

The unveiling of a commemorative plaque in honour of firefighter James Potter Schofield on the 133th anniversary of his death fighting a fire underneath Leeds railway station will be held tomorrow (Saturday, 11 January.)

The plaque will be unveiled at the Dark Arches entrance to the Leeds Station, off Neville Street, to commemorate James (Jim) Potter Schofield. Jim died on 13 January 1892 while tackling a huge blaze that broke out in the arches underneath the railway lines, when the platform he was standing on collapsed.

The plaque is part of the Red Plaque Scheme, funded by the Firefighters 100 Lottery, set up by the Fire Brigades Union to remember fallen firefighters and honour their sacrifice.

Shane Ewen, Professor of History at Leeds Beckett University has also partnered with Brave Words, which runs community youth theatre programmes, to pay tribute to Schofield. A performance of ‘Fighting the Good Fight – The Tale of Jim Schofield’ will be held at The Old Fire Station in Gipton at 7pm on Saturday.