Date: 13th June, 2025
Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is celebrating after two members of staff were recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours List.
Deborah Haynes, Head of the Dorset Civil Contingencies Unit (CCU) since 2020, has been awarded the MBE for services to the resilience community.
She leads a team that supports all emergency services and wider public sector organisations in planning for and responding to major emergencies affecting Dorset, although her public sector career has been varied and extensive, spanning both Dorset and Wiltshire.
Before joining the CCU, Deborah spent 19 years in the NHS and six years in local government. Her operational experience includes responses to significant national and regional incidents such as the fuel crisis and foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2000; major flooding events in 2007 and 2014; the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic; and the Salisbury Novichok poisonings in 2018.
More recently in Dorset, Deborah has played a key role in the multi-agency response to a series of severe storms, resulting in challenging coastal and inland flooding, and has supported the response to the growing threat of wildfires. She was instrumental in coordinating the Dorset response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Deborah lives in Devizes, and holds both a master’s degree in public health and a postgraduate diploma in health emergency planning.
She said: “I feel incredibly honoured and grateful to receive this MBE. It means so much to have my work in resilience and keeping communities safe recognised – something that it has always been a privilege to do. This award reflects the efforts of so many wonderful colleagues, friends and particularly my family, who have supported and inspired me along the way.”
Watch Manager Mike Grimshaw, on-call section commander at Chippenham fire station, has been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) for public service.
The honour recognises both Mike’s role as an on-call firefighter, and his national role as a Civilian Services Contingent Drill Instructor.
Mike joined the fire and rescue service as an on-call firefighter in Malmesbury in 2008, providing cover in Malmesbury and also in Swindon from his place of work. He transferred to Chippenham in 2014, and has been Watch Manager in charge of the on-call section since 2022.
His primary job is Director of Sales at Vysiion, part of the Exponential-e Group, and he provides day cover to the Service from his office in Chippenham.
In 2018, Mike was appointed as a Civilian Services Contingent Drill Instructor and has supported national events including the funeral of HM Queen Elizabeth II (Operation London Bridge) and the coronation of HM King Charles III (Operation Golden Orb).
Annually, he plays an essential part in the National Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in London, which involves a year-long commitment of planning, preparation, rehearsals, and performance.
Mike said: “It is a real honour to be recognised in this way, and I’m grateful to everyone who supports me in both my role as a firefighter and within the Civilian Services Contingent. This includes my family and my employer, who give me the flexibility to fulfil these additional commitments. I’ve had the privilege to undertake a role in the biggest ceremonial events in decades, and I’ve been proud to represent DWFRS and the Fire Service as a whole on the national stage.”
Chief Fire Officer Andy Cole said: “I am delighted that Deborah and Mike have been recognised for their hard work, professionalism and dedication to their jobs. They have both had such a positive impact on our communities, and they are a great credit to Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service. On behalf of their friends and colleagues, I give them my warmest congratulations.”
