Firefighters lined the footpath outside the Dunedin Central Fire Station as the veteran firefighter’s coffin was carried past the station on the way to Andersons Bay Cemetery following a service in Dunedin yesterday.
Mr Gibson died on November 10 after a short illness, aged 72.
He spent 41 years in the fire service, mainly in Dunedin.
Over the course of his service, which started in 1972, he undertook many different roles, including as a long-time fire investigator.
He retired in June 2013 with plans for settled days ahead.
At the time he said he looked forward to spending more time with his wife and their six children, and to being more committed to lawn bowls, as well as continuing work with the Fire Engine Restoration Society, with which he was involved for many years and which owns the restored fire appliance on which he was carried away yesterday.
Always busy, his retirement also brought to an end his involvement in the New Zealand Public Service Association, Hazardous Substances Technical Liaison Committee, National Rural Fire Authority and Otago Civil Defence and Emergency Management Group.
