Date: 15th May, 2025
A Portland café has received an award from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service in recognition of the support given to its local on-call fire station.
The presentation was made to Jen Norster and Simon Gearing of the Beehive by Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole at the Service’s annual awards ceremony on 9 May.
Up until very recently, their café manager was also an on-call firefighter and was able to respond to emergency calls from work. Alongside this, Jen and Simon have hosted car washes for the Fire Fighters Charity, and have supported the fire station in many other ways.
Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole said: “Portland is a small community, so the support of businesses such as the Beehive is essential to us maintaining fire cover. The generosity shown by Jen and Simon is even more appreciated in these difficult times for the hospitality sector, and I was delighted to present them with this award as a mark of our gratitude.”
He added: “If someone is interested in becoming an on-call firefighter, they should look at our website to see whether there’s an on-call fire station near to where they live or work, then get in touch with us to have a chat about what’s possible. The main things are that people are enthusiastic, want to work as part of a team, and want to be part of their community.”
Working as an on-call firefighter means being involved in a wide range of activities in your local area, including responding to emergency calls, carrying out work to support the community’s needs, and providing prevention advice to help keep people safe.
In return, the fire and rescue service offers flexible work to fit around study, other employment and/or family commitments; first class training and development opportunities; additional income; and a chance to make a difference.
For more information about being an on-call firefighter with Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, visit www.dwfire.org.uk/on-call-firefighters
Photo shows (l-r) Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole, Jen Norster and Simon Gearing from the Beehive, and Watch Manager Daniel Terrey, station commander at Portland fire station.