Fire Service pay tribute to 'dedicated' worker who represented them at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral a year on from her death

Sue Brookin, also known as Anne, held several posts spanning almost 40 years as in management, administrator and served as the Birmingham Commonwealth Games Planning Officer in Intelligence and Innovation.

The service took to social media to post: "Today marks the first anniversary of the death of our colleague Sue Brookin, who dedicated 38 years to West Midlands Fire Service. Sue was known to her family as Anne. Our thoughts remain with them, her friends, and all those affected by her death."

When she passed away in August last year, the brigade stated: "We are devastated by the death of our colleague Sue Brookin who worked for us for 38 years." 

"She joined us in 1986 on what was then known as the Youth Training Scheme (YTS). In more recent years she was a member of our prevention team. Sue was born on 5 August 1970, at the recently-opened Birmingham Women’s Hospital.

 "She grew up in Kings Heath, and went to school at Colmore Road Infants and Juniors and Baverstock Secondary School. She joined West Midlands Fire Service (WMFS) from there.

"She loved the Lake District and spent as much time as possible there, sightseeing and enjoying good food. More recently, her sister bought a cottage there which they visited together. It was in The Lakes that Sue developed a love of both Betty’s tea and ‘Herdy’ sheep.

"One of the highlights of Sue’s WMFS career was her time on secondment to our planning team for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, at which she also volunteered. Sue was devoted to, and extremely knowledgeable about, local communities."

 She was also a community volunteer and with the fire service's Sports and Welfare Fund.

Ms Brookin was selected to represent the service to pay respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II when her coffin lay in Westminster Hall, London, ahead of the State Funeral.

A special remembrance page remains on the service's website.