Date: 21st June, 2016
Sixteen Long Service and Good Conduct medals will be presented to members of Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service at a special ceremony on 22 June.
The Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sarah Troughton, and the Vice Lord Lieutenant of Dorset, James Gibson-Fleming, will present the medals at the Guildhall in Salisbury.
Long Service and Good Conduct medals are awarded by Royal Warrant on behalf of HM the Queen for “exemplary fire service”. Although they recognise 20 years within the Fire Service, they are not awarded automatically; each recipient must be personally recommended by the Chief Fire Officer and the criteria include “meritorious service and good conduct.”
Presentations will be made to:
- Firefighter Geoffrey Amos – Gillingham fire station
- Crew Manager Peter Anders – Christchurch fire station
- Firefighter Michael Angell – Devizes fire station
- Station Manager Stephen Broad – District Commander, Westbourne
- Crew Manager Robert Burt – Warminster fire station
- Watch Manager Jonathan Curley – Watch Manager (Trainer), West Moors Training Centre
- Firefighter Andrew Doggrell – Gillingham fire station
- Watch Manager Simon Gillett – Sherborne fire station
- Firefighter Simon Green – Pewsey fire station
- Firefighter Andy Gray – Salisbury fire station
- Watch Manager Mark Hillier – Pewsey fire station
- Group Manager Richard Humphrey – seconded to DTSL
- Firefighter Simon Lawes – Cranborne fire station
- Firefighter Adrian Petty – Melksham fire station
- Crew Manager William Smith – Trowbridge fire station
- Crew Manager Mark Surman – Devizes fire station
Long service medals will be also presented to four members of Corporate staff, to mark 20 years with the Service:
- Hilary Green – Fire Safety Administrator, Poole
- Andy Hatcher – Equipment Officer, Dorchester
- Mike Lawton – Vehicle Technician, Charminster
- Andy Coombs – Vehicle Technician, Bowerhill
A number of other awards will also be presented on the night:
- Chief Fire Officer’s letter of commendation – Firefighters Marc Barrett, Sarah Bascombe and Andy Westwood, and Crew Manager Richard Chave, all from White Watch at Redhill Park, in respect of actions taken at an incident in Bournemouth.
- Chief Fire Officer’s certificates of commendation – Crew Manager Chris Lee of Blue Watch, Fire Control, in respect of actions taken in September 2015; and Mrs Lucy Righelato, in respect of actions taken at a fire in Southbourne.
Professional achievement awards – Jane Staffiere, Head of HR; Fiona Bacon, HR Officer; Alex Davidson, Corporate Change Co-ordinator; and Jenny Long, Director of People Services. - Community Safety Award and Team Making A Difference Award – both to the Rural Safety Team in respect of the difference made to local communities.
- Making A Difference Award – Firefighter Anthony Thorp, of White Watch, Poole, for his excellent work in supporting firefighter apprentices.
- On-Call Employer of the Year Award – Henry Knee of MAB Southern, Westbury.
Chief Fire Officer Darran Gunter said: “The annual medals ceremony is always a special occasion, but this year is particularly special as it’s the first for our new combined Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service. As well as the recipients of our Long Service and Good Conduct medals, the evening is an opportunity to celebrate success across the organisation, from commendations to professional qualifications, so it is a time for us all to feel very proud.”