Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 23/06/2008 10:59

On 27th June, Armed Forces veterans from Cornwall County Fire Brigade will be celebrating the third annual Veteran’s Day. The event remembers veterans and their service not only in the Armed Forces but also in their continuing contribution to the fabric of communities all over the UK, by working in areas such as the Emergency Services.

Several members of Cornwall County Fire Brigade are ex service personnel, who have used the skills and discipline they learnt whilst serving to enter a career serving the people of Cornwall in the Fire Service.

Among them:

Andrew Slater, an Emergency Planning Officer in Truro who was in the RAF Regiment and served in the Falklands; Guy Herrington, a Station Officer in Truro who was a Marine Engineering Mechanic; Dave Carlisle, a Station Officer in Penzance who served in the Royal Navy during the Gulf War; Sean Taylor, a Sub Officer in Newquay who was in both the Royal Navy and served as a firefighter in the RAF; Nigel Vincent, Assistant Divisional Officer (East Division) who served in the Royal Navy; Tony Garvin, an Emergency Planning Officer in Truro who served in the first Gulf War in the Army, Ted Simpson, Deputy Chief Fire Officer who was a Royal Marine Commando, Pete Robinson, Station Manager (East Division) who was in the British Merchant Navy and served in Vietnam; Ian Neal, a firefighter at Camborne who served in the Army in the Gulf War and Bosnia; Jonathan Castleden, Leading Firefighter Service Delivery in Truro, who served in the Captain Royal Engineers in Basra; Jan Sturges, Senior Divisional Officer Service Delivery, who served in the Royal Navy and Naval Air Command Fire Service with tours in the Falklands; Ken Wright, a firefighter in Newquay who served in the Falklands for the Royal Navy; Richard Luff, a Watch Manager in Fire Control who served in the first Gulf War in the Royal Navy.

Ted Simpson, Deputy Chief Fire Officer explains, “Veteran’s Day is both a celebration of the contribution made by all those who have served in the Armed Forces and a means of raising public awareness of veterans issues. People don’t realise that there are ex service personnel still serving the people of this country every day and we hope that Veteran’s Day helps people to realise the great work that veterans do throughout the UK.”

The national Veteran’s Day event is to be held in Blackpool this year, with smaller events all around the country.