Pic(1) Denver Donaldson
Pic(2)Tony Harris
Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller thanked staff for their dedication and professionalism at the Bedfordshire and Luton Fire and Rescue Service annual awards ceremony at the Addison Centre, Kempston on Tuesday 21st September.
The guests included the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Daniel Hanbury, MPs Richard Fuller and Kelvin Hopkins, leading councillors and VIPs, as well as the families of firefighters and former long-serving Fire Chief Reg Haley.
CFO Fuller told them:
“Ahead of us are times where we will have to be prudent, innovative and more efficient - in the past you have expected a first class Fire and Rescue Service, please CONTINUE to expect a first class service. When you need us we will be there.”
The Lord Lieutenant of Bedfordshire Sir Samuel Whitbread KCVO JP presented ten fire service personnel with the Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal as well as other awards and trophies. His assistant in the role was a young uniformed fire cadet from Sandy: Shaun Dreyer
Chair of the Combined Fire Authority Cllr Sian Timoney praised the work of BLFRS by pointing to some of the highlights of the organisation’s work:
* fires in schools reduced by 75% compared to 2003 thanks to the preventative work of BLFRS
* sponsorship of the Young People of the Year Awards - the first FRS in the UK to support these awards which have been recognised by the new Prime Minister
* 15,500 free smoke detectors fitted in homes across Bedfordshire and Luton in the last year
* a series of 999 road safety days demonstrating police, fire and ambulance working together to save young lives
Retained Firefighter Peter Hailes was the announcer for the evening. A Town Crier in Leighton Buzzard, Peter is an experienced public speaker.
The BLFRS colour party was led by Station Commander Andy Draper.
Musical interludes were by the Bedford Choral Society.
Presentations of 20 year Long Service Medals:
(Jim Cliffe)
Mark Howey
Christopher Roast
David Stevens
CC Stuart Young
WC Darren Chambers
SC John Belcher
SC Guy Munno
SC Lorraine Moore
SC Ade Yule
Presentations of 25 year Long Service Medals:
WC Paul Barrows
AC Jon Roberts
Certificate in Fire Service Operations and Safety
Thomas Warner
Certificate in Fire Service Operations, Safety and Management
Mark Connelly
Fire Engineering Safety Science and Safety awards
Darren Cook
Strategic HR Management
Jason Tai
(Nerys Church)
EDEXCEL NVQ in Fire Safety
Jeremy Gibson
Assessors and Verifiers
Darren Cook and Lorraine Moore
Fellow of the Association of Building Engineers
GC John Foolkes
Foundation Degree in Child and Adolescent Studies
Marlika Anderson
City and Guilds
Garry Braddock
Tom Smylie Memorial Trophy donated by Mrs Isabella Smylie in memory of her late husband:
Ray Willett was presented with this trophy for his “substantial” work and effort in helping to develop the fire service in Meru, Kenya and in doing so helping to promote BLFRS nationally and internationally.
Transport and Engineering Manager and retained firefighter, Ray travelled with colleagues at their own expense to help train a team in Meru to use and maintain a fire engine donated by BLFRS. When team leader firefighter Joseph Githuka Njoroge came to the UK, Ray organised an extensive programme of training activities. Ray lives in Gamlingay.
Unsung Heroes Award
The “Steamer” group from the Biggleswade area who maintain and show an old horse drawn steam fire engine - visiting shows around the county and giving fire safety advice to the public and collecting funds for the Fire Fighters Charity:
Ollie Curtis, Andy Livesy, Charlie Mattin, Gareth Mattin, Sue Ruane, Paul Webb and Eddie Wing.
Chief Fire Officer’s Certificate of Commendation
Off-duty Stopsley, Luton firefighter Amy Summerfield who helped to save the life of a man who had collapsed while playing football on 10th March at Vauxhall Motors recreation ground in Luton. Aided by staff from the centre, Amy administered a life-saving “defib machine” shock to the casualty.
Chief Fire Officer’s Letter of Congratulation
To those who assisted a man injured in a road traffic collision in June this year. An ambulance crew were aided by a passing Dr and Occupational Health Nurse, plus two members of the public, one of whom had used a car extinguisher to put a fire under the damanged car bonnet. Two off duty police officers also joined the team and remained in the vehicle until fire crews arrive to cut free the victim. The victim was taken away by Air Ambulance.
Jerry Burnie, James Callow, Ruth Connelly, Helen Green, Dr Christiane Harris and Lisa Ward.
Fundraising Award
In recognition of their work in supporting the Fire Fighters Charity: David Ashpole and Jason Tai representing Bedford Fire Station.
Award for Endeavour
Donated by former Dep CFO Jagtar Singh for those that show commitment to colleagues. Dunstable firefighters Chris Luscombe and Simon Stanton in recognition of their “Whole Way Round” event which raised money for charity. They travelled 3,500 miles around Britain to collect cash for Marie Curie Cancer Care and FFC.
Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller presented two “special appreciation” awards to:
*Martin Freeman, who was recognised for his work with Bedford Borough Council in partnership with BLFRS, in improving road safety before his retirement earlier this year. Among the activities supported by Martin was the Xccelerate (trade name) course for pre-drivers.
*Tony Harris MBE will retire in December in his 46th year of service in fire control now housed in Kempston, Beds. He lives in Luton.
Tony joined what was then Luton Fire Service in August 1964 as a Fire Control Operator and was promoted to Leading Fire Control Operator in 1970. He became a Senior Fire Control Operator in 1974 and has led a watch within the service ever since
Fire Controls perform a critical support function within Fire and Rescue Services, handling all incoming emergency calls and taking full responsibility for the mobilisation and incident support of service resources.
This function is carried out by dedicated teams of individuals working long hours on a shift based duty system that ensures 24/7 support.
To lead a team within Fire Control demands not only extensive operational knowledge but also total commitment to the Service and your team.
Over the years Tony has been responsible for the initial on watch training and on going development of many individuals who have gone on to lead teams of their own thanks to the first class grounding and guidance they received at the beginning of their career.
Working in an emergency service control centre can be both stressful and at times distressing with the working day veering from periods of relative calm to frantic activity which in the case of serious emergencies can last for hours or even days.
Tony's calm and methodical approach to all manner of disasters and emergencies that he may be presented with not only ensures that the job gets done but also that all team members feel supported and confident in the task at hand.
Tony has built up vast experience and has always been generous with his knowledge and genuinely willing to pass on what he can to his team and other colleagues.
His professionalism is of the highest standard and his attendance exemplary.
On 31.08.1984 Tony was awarded the Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct medal and went on to receive his 25 year Long Service Award on 31.08.1989. He was made a Member of British Empire 18.06.1999 and was awarded his 40 year Long Service Award on 31.08.2004 He has been and continues to be a remarkable role model for emergency control staff within Bedfordshire and Luton.
The Bedfordshire on Sunday : “Contributing to Young People” was presented by the CFO.
This year the award went to John Jackson and Garry Braddock for welcoming in a young apprentice to the Site Management team as part of the Prince’s Trust ‘s “Get Into” scheme. The scheme involved invited young people to spend two weeks with emergency services employers to gain valuable team building and work experience. Following this Denver Donaldson was given a career chance of a lifetime.
Having completed his A Levels at St Thomas More, school, Denver, who now lives in Kempston, was not sure what career path to follow until The Prince’s Trust gave him the opportunity to apply for the Fire and Rescue Service post.
Now he is an Apprentice Maintenance Technician covering all aspects of property maintenance on fire stations and is being supported in his day release to Barnfield College working towards a Level 2 NVQ in Carpentry (First Fix) and a Level 2 Diploma in Maintenance Operations.
“I am much more of a ‘hands on’ type person rather than working from behind a desk. This job is perfect for me, I am learning so much and no two days are the same. I am very grateful to The Prince’s Trust and the Fire and Rescue Service for such an opportunity.”
The two year apprenticeship includes training at Barnfield College, Luton and attending a personal development and leadership course sponsored by Cambs Rotary.
Denver is being mentored by more experienced members of the maintenance team, Terry Broomfield and Graham Storey and was interviewed for the job overseen by Officer Services Manager John Jackson :
John said: “It is a privilege to be able to be in a position to support a young individual especially one of Denver’s calibre and hopefully provide him with the first step on to the ladder that can help him determine how he then maps out his future. In the time Denver spends in and around the teams I manage, will have the ideal opportunity to draw from all the staff’s years of knowledge, picking up a wide variation of skills and experience along the way and I believe in time he will become an asset to the Service”
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