GMFRS: long service recognised

Receiving the Queen’s Fire and Rescue Service Long Service Medal was Firefighter Mark Appleton, Watch Manager Mark Blackman, Watch Manager Mick Bloomfield, Firefighter Tony Carroll, Firefighter Andrew Chesters, Firefighter David Guy, Crew Manager Tony Hurley, Station Manager Dean Nankivell, Station Manager Angus Robinson, and Watch Manager David Wilson

Twelve Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) firefighters and staff have been awarded for their long service.

The Lord-Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Warren Smith presented medals recognising 20 and 40 years of service on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen – in a ceremony held at GMFRS’s Training and Development Centre on Thursday 31 May.

Medal recipients gathered with their families in the presence of Greater Manchester Fire Authority Chairman, David Acton and County Fire Officer (CFO) and Chief Executive Steve McGuirk.

The Fire and Rescue Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is awarded by the Queen.

David Acton said: “It is only right that we should acknowledge and recognise long service within GMFRS and it was fantastic to see families gather to watch their loved ones being awarded with their medals.

“And all the people receiving the awards really deserve them, and should be proud - because all together there was almost 300 years total service in the room - collectively an incredible amount of experience, commitment, bravery and endurance.”

During the ceremony, Area Manager Geoff Harris read a short citation for each medal recipient.

Among them, there were firefighters who were first on the scene of the Manchester bomb in 1996, a fire control officer who has answered 999 calls for 40 years and so many more tales of heroic rescues. Two included a station manager who travelled to Haiti in the wake of the magnitude seven earthquake and rescued a man who had been trapped under the rubble of his home for four days.

CFO Steve McGuirk said: “It was amazing to hear so many stories of heroism and bravery from right across the county over the last 20 and 40 years.

“It is fitting that the Queen’s representative here in Greater Manchester, the Lord-Lieutenant Warren Smith could present the medals just days before the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee bank holiday weekend.

“GMFRS is a family service and it is great to see families and friends looking on proudly as their long service was recognised and awarded.”

Receiving the Authority 40 years Long Service Award Medal was Group Fire Control Officer Carol Gleaves and Human Resources Business Partner Brendan McDonagh.
Receiving the Queen’s Fire and Rescue Service Long Service Medal was Firefighter Mark Appleton, Watch Manager Mark Blackman, Watch Manager Mick Bloomfield, Firefighter Tony Carroll, Firefighter Andrew Chesters, Firefighter David Guy, Crew Manager Tony Hurley, Station Manager Dean Nankivell, Station Manager Angus Robinson, and Watch Manager David Wilson.