13
www.dsfire.gov.uk - 3 -www.dsfire.gov.uk- 2 -
Awards Ceremony
A presentation by
Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Mrs Annie Maw
Woodlands Castle, Taunton
30 July 2015
Foreword
Foreword from the Chief Fire Officer and Chairman
We take great pleasure in welcoming our honoured guests, award recipients and their families to this Awards Ceremony in 2015.
Our staff face many exceptional and challenging situations on a day to day basis. Flooding, road traffic collisions, fires, extrications from building collapses and animal rescues are just a few examples of the work the Service undertakes these days.
Tonight we recognise the good conduct, professionalism and dedication of those who have worked for the Service for more than 20 years. We also recognise those Service staff who have gone beyond the call of duty to save life and property and members of the public who, by their outstanding actions, have contributed to saving lives. We also acknowledge the work undertaken by our staff in support of charitable causes.
Most importantly, we acknowledge the support of family and friends in providing encouragement to our staff throughout the course of their careers and at particularly difficult times.
We hope you all enjoy the ceremony and join us in congratulating all of the recipients on their remarkable achievements.
CFO Lee Howell and Chairman Cllr Mark Healey
- 3 -www.dsfire.gov.uk
Chief Fire OfficerLee Howell QFSM FIFireEDevon & SomersetFire & Rescue Service
ChairmanMark HealeyDevon & SomersetFire & Rescue Authority
www.dsfire.gov.uk - 5 -www.dsfire.gov.uk- 4 -
Awards ceremony
Honoured Guests Order of Ceremonies
Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Mrs. Maw
Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of a County is an Honorary Officer appointed by The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. He or she is the permanent representative of the Crown in that County and normally serves until retirement at between 70 and
75 years of age. Mrs Annie Maw was appointed as Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset earlier in 2015 following the retirement of Lady Gass DCVO JP.
Annie Maw was a State Registered Nurse who trained at Westminster Hospital. Since 1999 she has been a guide in Wells Cathedral. In 2002, she had a riding accident resulting in paraplegia. Despite life in a wheelchair, in 2008 she was High Sheriff of Somerset after which she chaired the Somerset Crimebeat Trust for one year.
She is a trustee of charities supporting young athletes in Somerset; supporting those with disabilities; and specifically supporting those with spinal injuries in the West Country. She is a Director and Council Member of the Royal Bath and West Society; Vice-President of the Friends of Wells Cathedral; and particularly close to her heart, she is Chancellor of the Children’s University of Somerset. Mrs Maw and her husband, Richard, (‘Dickie’) live near Shepton Mallet having formerly lived in the Chew Valley for many years.
Awards ceremony
- 5 -www.dsfire.gov.uk
18:45 Guests to be seated.
19:00 Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset is escorted into the Ceremony by the Chief Fire Officer, who will then give a brief welcome.
Formal Awards Ceremony commences with presentation by Lord-Lieutenant of the Queen’s Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.
Presentation by Watch Manager Dave Evans in respect of the work he has undertaken on secondment with Plymouth and Devon Race Equality Council.
Performance by the Service’s Ceremonial Unit
Presentation of Commendations by the Chief Fire Officer.
Presentation of Certificates of Achievement by the Chief Fire Officer.
Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset is escorted from the Ceremony by the Chief Fire Officer.
20:30 Buffet and entertainment provided by the Service’s Ceremonial Unit.
www.dsfire.gov.uk Acting to Protect & Save- 6 - - 7 -
Citation
Her Majesty The Queen has graciously approved a Royal Warrant setting out the conditions under which the Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal may be awarded.
‘For Exemplary Fire Service’
This honour is only gained after tendering 20 years long and meritorious service to the Fire Brigade and the public.
The awarding of this medal indicates the high esteem in which the recipient is held by the authorities and the public and expresses their gratitude for honourable service and devotion to duty.
Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
Elizabeth R
Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of her other Realms and Territories QUEEN, head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting!
Whereas We, being desirous of honoring those who have rendered long and meritorious service as members of the Fire Brigades of the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, did by warrant dated 1st June 1954 for Us, Our Heirs and Successors institute and create a new Medal to be designated and styled ‘The Fire Brigade Long Service and Good Conduct Medal’.
The qualifying period requisite for the award shall be twenty years’ wholetime or part time service in one of the Fire Brigades.
No person shall be recommended for the Medal unless, having completed the qualified period of service, it is certified that his character and conduct have been very good. It is also a requirement that the candidates shall have been put forward by the Chief Fire Officer.
Extracts from the Royal Warrant
www.dsfire.gov.uk Acting to Protect & Save- 8 - - 9 -
Firefighter Darren BerryDarren joined the Service in 1992 as a retained Firefighter at Lynton Fire Station. He joined the Wholetime Service in 1997, working mainly at Barnstaple Fire Station where he remains to date.
Firefighter Mark BlakeyMark joined the Service in January 1994 as a Firefighter. Mark has held a number of different posts over the years but is currently working as part of the Urban Search and Rescue Team.
Firefighter Antony BrooksAntony started his career with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service in September 1994. After completion of training he served at Basingstoke Station for six years. In 2000, he transferred to Somerset. He has worked at Taunton and Bridgwater stations and is currently serving at Bridgwater.
Group Manager Martin CarnellMartin started his career as a Firefighter at Yeovil and during that time had a few periods of temporary promotion. He was promoted to Leading Firefighter on Watch at Taunton and following a few years there, went back to Yeovil for a period of temporary promotion as a Sub Officer on Watch. With the advent of Integrated Risk Management Planning within Fire Services, he secured another temporary promotion as Station Officer to the Service Development Team as a project manager.
On leaving this team, he secured a substantive promotion as a Station Manager in the dual role of Press Officer/Performance Management Support Officer a couple of years before combination. On combination with the Devon Fire and Rescue
Long Service and Good Conduct Medals Long Service and Good Conduct Medals
Service, Martin remained in the Somerset Command as a Station Manager in a support role. He was subsequently promoted and now works as a Group Manager with responsibility for the Somerset Command Support Team.
Crew Manager Kevan ConnonKevan joined the Service on 25 October 1994 as a retained Firefighter at Station 17 Torquay. In 2002, he started working with the Community Fire Safety Department in Torquay. He was promoted to Crew Manager in the retained on 1 February 2008.
In October 2010, Kevan received a Chief Fire Officer’s Letter of Commendation for actions above and beyond the call of duty as a result of his work within the 999 Community Cadets. The 999 Community Cadets Scheme was based at Torquay Fire Station and was developed in partnership with the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary. The Scheme was set up to nurture and help young people from the community to develop and reach their potential and Kevan was an inspiration to the young people he coached and mentored.
Kevan also worked with and continues to support the Community Safety Advocate Scheme. He is very proud of the work that has been undertaken, which has seen accidental fires falling by nearly 18% in Torbay.
Firefighter Jason CooperJason joined the Service originally in 1991 as a junior Firefighter at the age of 17. Jason completed his basic training and, on turning 18, was ready to go ‘on the run’. Just before Jason became 18, he flew through his medical but it became apparent that he was colour blind which meant he did not reach the required standard and he had to leave the Service which was a great disappointment.
www.dsfire.gov.uk Acting to Protect & Save- 10 - - 11 -
In 1994, however, the regulation was relaxed and he rejoined the Service on 5 October 1994. Jason quickly settled and he was promoted to Leading Firefighter on 18 March 2003. Jason’s confidence grew and so did the respect of the team at Shepton Mallet following which, on 18 October 2007, Jason was further promoted to Watch Manager.
Jason’s full time employment involves considerable travelling. Consequently he felt he could no longer support the station and community as Watch Manager and has relinquished his rank back to Firefighter, a role in which he is still proud to serve at Shepton Mallet.
Firefighter Hieth GeorgeHieth joined the Service in the retained in August 1994 at the Exmouth Station. In 2001 the Station was relocated to Liverton Business Park on the outskirts of the town and Hieth decided to move home as well.
Hieth has attended many incidents including numerous thatch and common fires. Exmouth now provides cover for Swift Water Rescue and Hieth spent a lot of time with his colleagues providing the Humanitarian Boat Service for the people of Muchelney and Moorland during the flooding in January/February 2014. One of Heith’s highlights for the Fire Service was the creation of the Exmouth Firefighters Calendar, which was created in 2014 and has helped raise in excess of £10,000 for charity.
Heith works for the Nationwide Building Society which has continuously supported his work for the Fire and Rescue Service throughout his career.
Long Service and Good Conduct Medals
Firefighter Timothy GillettTim joined the Service in 1994 and following his basic training at Reigate was posted to Green Watch in Yeovil. Whilst posted at Yeovil, Tim served on both White Watch and Green until 1998 when he transferred to Bridgwater Fire station. Tim has served from 1998 to present at Bridgwater working on both Green and White watch.
Group Manager Matt GoodmanMatt joined the Service in September 1994. He was stationed at Taunton gaining promotion to Crew Manager in 1998. He remained at Taunton until 2000 then joined the training department and specialised in fire behaviour and road traffic collisions. After two years in training, he returned to Taunton as a Watch Commander. In 2004 he was promoted to Station Manager and worked in the Service Development Team. Over the next six years, he occupied seven different Station Manager roles, mainly within the training function. He remained associated with training following the combination of Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services in 2007. In 2010 he was promoted to Group Manager and has remained within training since. His most recent work has been the introduction of a new framework of operational skills called the Operational Licence.
Long Service and Good Conduct Medals
www.dsfire.gov.uk Acting to Protect & Save- 12 - - 13 -
Firefighter Mike HarrisMike joined the Service in 1995 and was based at Crownhill Station, Plymouth on Blue Watch. In 1996, Mike moved to Torquay on Blue Watch and in 2000 he moved to Red Watch there. Mike moved to White Watch at Torquay in 2001 where he remains to the present day.
Although Mike successfully completed both his Leading Firefighters and Sub Officers examinations, he made a career choice to remain as a Firefighter. For the past nine years, in addition to this rewarding role, he has also provided training for the Vema aerial appliance.
In April 2015, Mike also became the aerial appliance co-ordinator for the Service, a role in which he feels a dedication.
Firefighter Daniel KenmishDan Joined the Service in 1994, aged 18 and following his basic training at Reigate was posted to Blue Watch in Bridgwater. He has served on this Watch from that date to present as an operational Firefeghter.
Watch Manager Nathan LapwoodNathan joined the Service on 9 January 1995. His first posting was to Red Watch at Plymstock. In April 1996, Nathan transferred to Exmouth when it became a shift station and served on Green and Red Watch until he received his first promotion.
He became a Leading Firefighter in divisional training, holding this post until he joined Breathing Apparatus (BA) school in January 2004 as a Leading Firefighter. In January 2005, Nathan received a further promotion to Sub Officer at Green Watch on Paignton Fire
Long Service and Good Conduct Medals
Station. He served at Service Headquarters in 2006/7 and then moved to the National Resilience Team as a temporary Station Manager for three years.
In 2011, Nathan reverted back to Watch Manager in charge of Green Watch at Danes Castle. At the end of 2011 he then moved back to BA school and stayed there until March 2014 when he transferred to White Watch at Exmouth Fire Station. Nathan has been the permanent Watch Manger on Red Watch at Exmouth since July 2014.
Watch Manager Control Glenn LarcombeGlenn joined the Service in July 1995 and worked his way up through the ranks of Crew Manager and then Watch Manager. When Devon and Somerset combined control rooms, Glenn continued as a Watch Manager. In 2013, Glenn was detached to the Collaborative Partnership, based at Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, as a Mobilising Co-ordinator. During this 15 month secondment, Glenn managed to secure a Temporary Station Manager post. In May 2014, he returned from his detachment back on watch as a Watch Manager. In February 2015, Glenn changed roles temporarily and took over as the Training and Performance Manager for Control. He is currently a Temporary Station Manager in the Group Support Team in Control.
Firefighter David LockDavid joined the Service on 19 September 1994 and in January 1995 was posted to White Watch at Taunton. From July 2003 to the present day, David has been based on White Watch at Taunton which subsequently became Blue Watch on combination with the former Devon Fire and Rescue Service. Mike also joined the retained duty system at Taunton in November 2008.
Long Service and Good Conduct Medals
www.dsfire.gov.uk Acting to Protect & Save- 14 - - 15 -
Firefighter Wayne MiddletonWayne joined the Service in August 1994 as a retained Firefighter, serving at Okehampton station. Since that time he has undertaken a number of roles.
Watch Manager Christopher PearceChris joined the Service as a Firefighter in March 1994 and was based at Bridgwater initially. Chris has moved between Taunton and Bridgwater stations over recent years and following promotion in July 2014 is now Green Watch Commander at Bridgwater.
Crew Manager Mike RenshawMike joined the Service in 1994, serving on the retained duty system based at Burnham-on-Sea Fire Station. Following a short career-break at the end of 1998, he reached his twenty years’ service in April of this year and is looking forward to continuing in service for a number of years to come.
Mike was honoured to represent the Service at the funeral of Stephen Hunt from Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, who died in the line of duty. Mike also attended St Paul’s Cathedral on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 as part of the Firefighter Memorial Day in 2011.
Station Manager Mark SandersMark joined the Service on the 9 January 1995 and after completing his Wholetime recruits course was posted to Ilfracombe on the day crewing system. On 1 May 1996, he transferred to Red Watch at Barnstaple as a Firefighter and served there until July 1998 when he was promoted to what was then Leading Firefighter on White Watch at Barnstaple. In 2002, he was promoted to Sub Officer on Red Watch at Barnstaple.
Long Service and Good Conduct Medals Long Service and Good Conduct Medals
He held a couple of temporary Station Manager roles in Response and Resilience and North Group Support Team before being promoted to substantive Station Manager in October 2012 and becoming a flexi duty officer. He currently serves as a Station Manager/Local Risk Manager in Central North Group Support Team.
Mark has also served as a retained Firefighter at Barnstaple but left this in 2000 to take up the flexible duty role in the wholetime duty system.
Firefighter Mark ShepherdMark joined the Service as a retained Firefighter in December 1994 serving at Shepton Mallet Fire Station providing full cover throughout his career.
Crew Manager Kevin StrowgerKevin joined the Service on 19 September 1994 following which he went to Reigate training school for 13 weeks residential training. He joined Blue Watch at Yeovil station in January 1995, transferring to Red Watch in January 1997. After two years he then joined White Watch at Yeovil in January 1999. Here he gained his first temporary promotion to Leading Firefighter for six months in 2000. In February 2001, Kevin took a second period of temporary promotion on Red Watch at Taunton until joining Blue Watch at Taunton as a substantive Leading Firefighter in September 2001.
In 2014, Kevin was temporarily promoted to Watch Manager on Green Watch for several months. Kevin currently serves as Temporary Watch Manager on Blue Watch, Taunton. Kevin has thoroughly enjoyed his time both with Somerset and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Services.
www.dsfire.gov.uk - 17 -www.dsfire.gov.uk- 16 -
Watch Manager David TuckerDavid joined the Service in 1993 as a ‘Junior Volunteer’. At 18 he was taken on as a Firefighter, proud to be following in his father and grandfather’s footsteps.
David was promoted to Leading Firefighter in 2002 and has been a temporary Watch Manager for the last 18 months.
He has served his entire career in Glastonbury, which he has enjoyed greatly.
Long Service and Good Conduct Medals Presentation
- 17 -www.dsfire.gov.uk
Watch Manager Dave Evans – overview of secondmentIn 2013, Dave began a secondment with Plymouth and Devon Race Equality Council (PDREC) with the aim of building relationships with black and minority ethnic (BME) communities in the city, including asylum seekers and refugees. After the first year of the secondment, the role was re-focussed to include working closely with people with learning disabilities through community relationships previously forged by Dave.
Dave’s work has given the Service a recognised and visible presence with a range of BME together with people with a learning disability. Over the past two years the secondment has achieved a wide range of positive outcomes including:
• working with PDREC to design and deliver ‘Step up For Respect’ an art project working with school children, with the aim of raising awareness of diverse communities and accepting and celebrating difference
• facilitating fire safety training for frontline staff and support workers working with the asylum seeker/refugee community
• producing a set of easy read leaflets with key life-saving information in the ten most commonly spoken languages in Plymouth
• developing a ‘Life Skills’ course alongside Devon and Cornwall Police for the asylum seeker/refugee community
• supporting the Plymouth Kurdish Community in helping to establish a community hub for all BME communities in which the Service has a desk to provide fire safety advice
• working with partners to run a Blue Light Event attended by 240 adults with learning disabilities
• organising Fire Warden’s Assistants courses for adults with learning disabilities.
www.dsfire.gov.uk Acting to Protect & Save- 18 - - 19 -
Chief Fire Officer’s Certificate of Commendation Chief Fire Officer’s Certificate of Commendation
Commended Adrian BishopIncident Rescue from operational machinery at
premises at Hatch Beauchamp, Taunton
Date 18 January 2014
Adrian was working in an adjoining workshop at the premises when he heard the shouts from a work colleague. Adrian immediately went to investigate, only to see his colleague being pulled into a bandsaw. Adrian quickly hit the stop button and placed his foot onto an air operated foot switch which stopped his colleague being pulled in any further. When the machine stopped, his colleague’s head was only inches from the saw blade.
Adrian was faced with a horrific situation. Although his colleague was trapped with potentially severe injuries, Adrian remained calm and level-headed, providing reassurance to his colleague all through the incident.
Whilst the emergency services were working to free Adrian’s colleague from the entrapment, Adrian remained in position with his foot securing the machinery from further movement. With all this going on, Adrian managed to give good advice on the workings of the machinery, allowing crews to formulate an extrication plan.
It is without doubt that, had it not been for Adrian’s quick thinking and reactions, his colleague may have lost his life. Adrian is, therefore commended for his brave and selfless actions that day.
Commended Watch Manager Control, Katie JefferyFirefighter Control, Richard McGhee Greenbank (White Watch) Crew Crew Manager Phil Laws, Crew Manager Tim Reed, Firefighter Paul Statton, Firefighter Ian Cooper, Firefighter John Organ, Firefighter Mark Hillier, Firefighter Neil Carmichael, Firefighter Kim Telfer, Firefighter Lawrence Trerise
Incident House fire rescue, Chaddlewood Avenue, Plymouth
Date 9 May 2015
Fire survival advice given by Fire Control Operators helped save the lives of three people from a fire in Plymouth on 9 May 2015.
Smoke alarms alerted three adults in the house to the fire in Chaddlewood Avenue, St Judes, early in the morning and they immediately called 999. The fire was on the ground floor of the house and had trapped a woman and two men upstairs. While fire crews were on their way, the Control Operator provided advice over the telephone to the individuals until they were rescued.
The people trapped were initially in separate rooms, so they were advised to go into the same room to make the subsequent rescue quicker. As smoke started to rise into the room from the fire below, they were told to open the window, block the smoke coming in under the doorway and stay low to the ground where the smoke was less dense.Crews from Greenbank, Camels Head and Crownhill attended the incident and the house was well alight on their arrival. The fire crew from Greenbank arrived first and pitched a ladder to the first floor window to rescue the occupants. The
www.dsfire.gov.uk Acting to Protect & Save- 20 - - 21 -
Chief Fire Officer’s Certificate of Commendation Chief Fire Officer’s Certificate of Commendation
woman was struggling to breathe at this point and all three were taken to hospital by ambulance. After rescuing the three people inside, firefighters tackled the blaze using jets.
The smoke alarms gave the victims early warning of the fire and the survival advice they were given on the telephone kept them safe until the quick arrival and actions of the crews. Without these three elements all being in place, the consequences could have been very different.
The duty watch on Fire Control was White Watch with WM Katie Jeffery in charge and the emergency call handler was Fire Fighter Control Richard McGhee. This was the first time Richard had needed to use his fire survival call handling skills and he was supported by his Watch Manager.
The emergency call handler is the person in direct contact with the caller and can influence the actions they take and reduce the impact of the situation on them, with the objective of effecting a successful outcome. Meanwhile, the remainder of the control room personnel work to mobilise and inform operational crews to ensure the relevant information is passed to those who deliver the front line service.
WMC Katie Jeffery, FFC McGhee and White Watch on Greenbank are commended for their actions which undoubtedly saved the lives of three people that day.
Commended Aaron Lawton Carl ReedIncident Rescue at Fire Pool Lock, TauntonDate 17 April 2014An elderly gentleman in a wheelchair had fallen 15 feet into the Bridgwater and Taunton canal on 17 April 2014. Aaron and Carl were nearby and saw this happen. They both climbed into the canal and held the gentleman above the water until the fire and rescue service arrived and completed the rescue.
Their brave and selfless actions clearly saved the life of the gentleman and Aaron and Carl are duly commended by the Chief Fire Officer.
www.dsfire.gov.uk Acting to Protect & Save- 22 - - 23 -
Chief Fire Officer’s Certificate of Commendation Certificates of Appreciation
Retained Stations
The Chief Fire Officer has awarded Certificates of Appreciation for the retained stations that have made the most significant contribution to local communities. This award is based on the activities undertaken by the stations, such as charity fundraising, sporting achievements and engagement with the community, amongst others, whilst also looking at station availability.
The three retained stations receiving this award this year are:
South Molton
Teignmouth
Glastonbury
Charity Fundraising
The Service has been recognised by the Firefighters’ Charity for the significant amount of funds that it has raised during 2014/15.
Commended Watch Manager Phil Van Gorph
Incident Property Fire, Gorehedge Sheltered Housing, Frome
Date 14 September 2014
On 14 September 2014, the Service mobilised to a property fire at Gorehedge Sheltered Housing in Frome.
Phil was Incident Commander. On arrival at the incident, the fire crew faced a rapidly-developing fire in a ground floor flat. Phil proceeded to the rear of the premises and discovered that the fire had flashed over in the bedroom of the flat. It quickly became apparent that the occupant was collapsed under the living room window (which was open) and was trapped by the fire.
Without his crew and with only a fire extinguisher, Phil, together with a member of the public and at considerable risk to themselves, leant into the window and pulled the occupant out of the fire with seconds to spare. Although the occupant suffered smoke inhalation and burns, following transfer to Bath Hospital he subsequently made a full recovery.
Phil is duly commended for his actions that day which clearly saved a life.
www.dsfire.gov.uk Acting to Protect & Save
Devon & Somerset Fire & Rescue ServiceService HeadquartersThe KnowleClyst St GeorgeExeter, EX3 0NW
t: 01392 872200
Sponsored by
