Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 03/04/2012 07:56

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service highlighted the achievements of fire service staff and members of the public during its annual award ceremony at the Maritime Museum in Falmouth.

During the event, attended by fire service staff, their families and dignitaries including Colonel Edward Bolitho OBE Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall, Councillor Pat Harvey, Chairman of Cornwall Council and Councillor Lance Kennedy, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for Community Safety and Public Protection.

Chief Fire Officer Des Tidbury presented the Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation to three members of the public, John Underwood and Johnny Haynes from Liskeard and Ben Stafford from Shropshire, as well as Crew Manager Neil Wrigg from Perranporth.

John Underwood and Johnny Haynes were praised for their actions following a fire at Eddystone Rise in Liskeard in April 2011. Confronted with a developing fire, the pair took a calculated risk to enter the property and search for the female occupant, with little concern for their own safety. Not only did they save the woman, but they also isolated the gas supply and used a garden hose in an attempt to contain the fire before crews arrived on the scene.

As the first on the scene of an incident involving a female trapped in a car close to the edge of a cliff at St Agnes Beacon in July 2011, Ben Stafford provided reassurance to the casualty who had been in the vehicle for around 20 hours. He risked his own safety to pass on vital information to 999 control operators about the condition of the driver and stability of the vehicle and then remained with the casualty until emergency crews took over.

Crew Manager Neil Wrigg, as part of the rescue party made up from the fire service and Coastguard, was lowered on a line to the stranded vehicle on the cliff edge. After ensuring Ben was safe, Neil helped to stabilise the vehicle and then climbed into the car and helped to get the driver onto a stretcher.

The Chief Fire Officer’s Cup for Community Safety, which is awarded by nominations from peers, was presented to the prevention team’s anti social behaviour case worker for East Cornwall, Steve Ellis.

Steve has excelled within the role and has been delivering a first class service to people in the East Cornwall area. Steve has not only dealt with some of the most problematic anti social behaviour cases in Cornwall, he has worked tirelessly in supporting vulnerable victims who are on the receiving end of this behaviour, giving them the confidence to stand up to those who are making their lives a misery.

The evening included the presentation of Long Service and Good Conduct Medals by Col Edward Bolitho OBE Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall.

The Fire Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is awarded by Her Majesty the Queen, to honour those who have rendered long and meritorious service, as members of Fire Services in the United Kingdom. The qualifying period for the award of the medal is a minimum of 20 years wholetime or retained service, during which time their character and conduct must have been good.

Fire Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medals were presented to:

• Watch Manager John Palmer (Falmouth Community Fire Station)

• Crew Manager Nigel Jory (Redruth Community Fire Station)

• Watch Manager Mark Glanville (Truro Community Fire Station)

• Firefighter David Harvey (Camborne Community Fire Station)

• Crew Manager Stephen Hill (Bodmin Community Fire Station)

• Firefighter Christopher Ellis (Camborne Community Fire Station)

• Station Manager James Payne (retired) (St Columb Community Fire Station)

• Crew Manager Christopher Williams (Mullion Community Fire Station)

• Group Manager Justin Sharp (Service Training Centre, Portreath)

• Group Manager Sacha Wheatman (Service Headquarters, Old County Hall, Truro)

Lance Kennedy, Cornwall Council portfolio holder for Community Safety and Public Protection, said: “The fire service in Cornwall is one we should be very proud of. This award ceremony each year reminds us of the hard work and dedication of these excellent firefighters, and of members of the wider community, in keeping the residents and visitors to Cornwall safe. I hope that those that have won will be extremely and rightly proud of themselves.”

Chief Fire Officer Des Tidbury added: “This kind of event reminds us of the positive work going on all around us by dedicated and hard working members of the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service. It also highlights the work of our partners and our communities and I would like to express my thanks to all of those who help the service engage with the people of Cornwall, not just those that have been awarded tonight, for their hard work, energy and enthusiasm."

Pat Harvey, Chairman of Cornwall Council said: “I am delighted to support events such as this which recognise the achievements of long serving members of staff and members of the public who have gone ‘above and beyond’.”

Firefighter John White from Camborne Community Fire Station was unable to attend on the night to receive his Long Service and Good Conduct medal.