Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) celebrated long service, staff achievements and support from the local community at its annual awards evening.
The event celebrated the commitment, dedication and professionalism of CFRS staff and others outside of the service who go above and beyond to improve the level of service CFRS provides within the community.
Around 130 guests attended the event at the Marriott Hotel in Huntingdon for the event, including recipients of medals, winners of awards and their families.
The evening was hosted by chief fire officer Graham Stagg and BBC Look East presenter Janine Machin
Long service and good conduct medals – for 20 years service for meritorious service- were presented by the vice Lord Lieutenant, Jane Lewin Smith.
The chairman’s awards – made to retired personnel who have completed at least 25 years’ service – were presented by fire authority chairman Sir Peter Brown.
Eight excellence awards – reflecting a variety of different achievements and nominated by staff- were also handed out.
Some certificates of commendation – to formally recognise both staff and external supporters- were also presented.
After the ceremony Mr Stagg said: “Tonight there were excellent examples of people going above and beyond despite the change and uncertainty that has been going on in the background over the past few months with both budget cuts and a national dispute.”
David Hall of TruckEast, one of the sponsors of the event, said: “We were delighted support the excellent work that goes on not just on the frontline, but also behind the scenes, to help make Cambridgeshire a safer place to be.”
Award winners:
Long Service and Good Conduct medal:
•Andrew Ellington – firefighter, Cambridge Fire Station
•Robin Hodgson – firefighter, Huntingdon Fire Station
•David Murfitt – on-call firefighter, Littleport Fire Station
•Kym Napier – on-call firefighter, Huntington Fire Station
•Carl Pardon – station commander, Sawtry Fire Station and Huntingdon Training Centre
•James Thompson – firefighter, operational risk and response team
Support Staff Long Service Award
•Matthew Warren – director of resources, Huntingdon
Chairman’s Award
•Adrian Hunter - retired on-call firefighter, March
Excellence Awards
Excellence in Community Safety Award
Phil Thacker (Ramsey on-call) – for his continuous support for community
safety activities, particularly in driving down deliberate fires at the former RAF
Upwood site.
Operational Excellence Award
Cambridge black watch – for a dramatic dog rescue from a frozen lake at
Milton Country Park during which crews showed great leadership and teamwork to ensure the dog was safely rescued and returned to its owner.
Award for Innovation
Clare Flint (HQ) and Julian Fountain (station commander for Burwell and Swaffham and Risk Manager for Cambridge, East and South Cambs) for creating a risk profiling document that has allowed fire protection officers to focus resources on key areas.
Scott Feveyear (Watch Commander at Cambridge) and Danny Kelly (Watch Commander at Huntingdon) for the work put into developing enhanced training days for on-call stations.
Leadership Award
Harry Edge (station commander and on-call duty system support officer) for his leadership and commitment to improving the on-call service.
Team Achievement Award
Payroll (SHQ): Andrea Batchelor, Ann Read and Michaela Moore for their contribution to business change projects and supporting colleagues in other groups, while consistently maintaining a less than 1 per cent error rate on five payrolls.
Individual Achievement Award
Kevin Partridge (technical support assistant at Huntingdon and on-call crew commander at Huntingdon) for the many roles he offers as both an on-call firefighter and at training centre and the commitment he shows to the organisation.
Partnership Achievement Award
Paul Clarke (station commander at Sutton Fire Station and fire protection manager based at Dogsthorpe) for coordinating the partnership work at a multi-agency incident involving an oil tanker on the A14.
On-call Employer of the Year
Cottenham Tyre and Auto Centre for demonstrating outstanding commitment to the service by releasing half the workforce to attend incidents when required. This has included at times closing the garage and turning away customers to allow firefighters to attend calls.
Certificate of Commendation
Alan Chapman (resident of Littleport) for the selfless act of heroism at a road traffic collision in Littleport (May 25, 2013) by helping a trapped casualty from a burning vehicle.
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