FIRE fighters from around Fenland were rewarded for their dedication, commitment and outstanding service at a Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service awards evening.

Nigel James, a fire fighter from Chatteris, was presented with a long service and good conduct medal by the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire, Hugh Duberly, for completing more than 20 years of service.

Retired firefighter Adrian Hunter, former crew commander at March, won a Chairman’s Award for having completed more than 25 years service before he retired.

An Award for Innovation was presented to Giles Grainger, Hai tao Liu, Steve Elve, Martin Ockenden, Nigel Smith and Alison Scott, for the group’s innovative approach to fire protection education with the Chinese business community in Wisbech.

The fire authority also paid tribute to the support it receives in the community. Thorney Golf Centre won the Retained Employer of the Year award, for releasing Thorney’s watch commander for the past 16 years, as well as another firefighter for the past three years.

George Dunlop was presented with a certificate of commendation for his many years of work to support the fire authority’s activities with Vivien, the 1932 fire engine.

The awards evening, held at the Marriott Hotel in Huntingdon, was hosted by Chief Fire Officer Graham Stagg, and BBC Look East presenter Janine Machin.

After the ceremony, Mr Stagg thanked sponsors of the evening, and said the service had debated “long and hard” about whether it was appropriate to hold the awards evening, while budget cuts are “very much dominating everything we do.”

But, he said: “It is all the more important to recognise good work of staff during hard times. And after reading all the nominations for the awards, I know we made the right decision, as there were some excellent examples of people going above and beyond, despite the change and uncertainty that have been going on in the background.”