HEROES of Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (WFRS) have been honoured at an awards ceremony.
The outstanding achievements of firefighters, staff and members of the community were celebrated at the ceremony, held at The British Motor Museum.
Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Ben Brook presented commendations to individuals who displayed exceptional dedication to duty.
They included Watch Manager James Blatcher, and Firefighters Oliver Bullingham, Mitchell Colby and Sam Walton, for their life-saving actions at a traffic collision – where the paramedic said their quick-thinking gave those involved the best possible chance of survival.
Station Managers Joanne Carter and Orla McllDuff were commended for ‘the highest levels of integrity’ and delivering workshops that promote equality, diversity, and inclusion within the service.
Pardeep Johal was awarded for her ‘extraordinary commitment to raising fire safety awareness’, sharing her family’s story, and reaching out to communities in Punjabi.
The Putting Communities First awards acknowledged staff who went beyond their roles to promote fire safety and well-being.
Among them were Crew Manager Adam Woodfield and Firefighter Stefan Sturgess from Rugby Fire Station for their initiative in providing free defibrillator training to the community, and Steve Trinder for his 34 years of service and his ‘exemplary’ actions during the 1998 Warwickshire floods.
The winners of the Exceptional Leadership awards included Station Manager Amanda Swinden for her ‘exemplary’ leadership when weak reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete was found in the Control Suite, and Temporary Group Manager Michael Atkin for his leadership during a period of change.
Long Service and Good Conduct Medals were presented to firefighters who have dedicated 20 years or more to the service – among them Crew Manager Iain Cresswell, Firefighter Andrew Humphreys, and Station Manager Michele Crossan.
Mr Brook said: “I am incredibly proud of all our award winners.
“Their dedication, skill, and compassion are what make the Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service such a valuable asset to our community. These awards are a testament to their ongoing commitment to keeping Warwickshire safe.”
Warwickshire County Council’s fire and rescue spokesman Coun Andy Crump added: “The awards recognise not only the award recipients but also the entire WFRS team for their incredible commitment to the safety and well-being of the Warwickshire community. We thank you all.”
