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'What a great honour and privilege to be part of the Pride Parade in Manchester today - and what a distance we have come.

We had three fire appliances and over 70 personnel from all parts and every corner of the Service - operational staff' support staff and volunteers - and everyone had a great time (even the weather smiled kindly on us for the parade itself).

As we walked round Manchester we were getting impromptu rounds of applause from the public and I know it brought a smile to my face but as I looked round our contingent the sense of pride and appreciation from everyone was equally obvious.

Whilst it's a real celebration we shouldn't glibly pass over the underlying reasons why it happens which is really about not allowing ignorance and intolerance of difference to prevail and prevent people living their lives to the full.

Last update: 13/06/2011 09:13:33