Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 17/03/2004 17:34

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
14,00 Friday 19TH March 2004 at Penzance Fire Station

Station Officer Jack Aitken will attend his last ‘passing out parade’ as the leader of the successful Phoenix Project this Friday the 19th March 2004 at Penzance Fire Station.

Jack joined Cornwall County Fire Brigade in February 1974 and retires after more than 30 years service. He was promoted to Leading Firefighter in 1979, Sub.Officer in 1990 and Station Officer on the Phoenix Project in 2001.

As Station Officer on The Phoenix Project his initial piece of work was to secure funding for a sustained period and deliver the service working with young people. In 2002 a partnership with the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund was established to set up the scheme ‘The Phoenix Project’. He has since seen over one hundred young people successfully complete the course.

Jack Aitken explains: “The aim of the Phoenix Project is to invest in young people, using the reputation of the brigade to benefit youngsters and in turn the wider community. It is targeted towards the 13 to 17 age group as well as working with the Cornwall County Fire Brigade’s Fire Awareness Child Education (FACE) scheme”.


The Project has gone from strength to strength and Jack has built an excellent team delivering a vital service in an imaginative and successful way. The aptly named Phoenix Project takes children from a variety of backgrounds, through referral or self referral by schools and organisations. It aims to rebuild a sense of community and self esteem.

Jack’s motivation and enthusiasm to work with young people in this unique way has been one of the prime reasons for the project's success.

Jack has a background involved in community life in his home town of Penzance, having served on the Council and two terms as Mayor of Penzance. This has been a tremendous advantage in developing the partnerships necessary to get the project off the ground and to ensure that it continues long into the future.

Chief Fire Officer, Mick Howell, said of Jack "Jack's enthusiasm and sheer personality and commitment to serve and improve the community and make it safer are what creates legends. It has been a remarkable career, spanning 30 years in Cornwall County Fire Brigade and he leaves us a legacy in the Phoenix Project which is already being copied by fire brigades around the UK which I know will serve Cornwall for many years to come.

He cont: “I wish Jack and his family good health, happiness and success in all that he does in the future and I doubt that the people of Cornwall and Penzance in particular, will have heard the last of him".