Six new on-call firefighters for Derbyshire and two new industrial firefighters for Rolls-Royce

Credit: DFRS

On Sunday 8th March, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service (DFRS) celebrated the achievements of six new on-call firefighters at a pass out ceremony attended by their family and friends.

The Service also recognised two newly competent industrial firefighters from Rolls-Royce, who trained alongside its on-call recruits as part of a joint training programme, announced earlier this year.

Derbyshire’s Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive (CFO/CE) Michael Sharman hosted the event which marked the successful completion of several weeks of intense training for firefighters from course 1-26, formally welcoming them to the Service.

The ceremony featured the presentation of certificates, special awards, and operational displays for the assembled guests.

Speaking afterwards, CFO/CE Sharman said: “A pass out ceremony is a special occasion as we celebrate our newest on-call firefighters and industrial firefighter colleagues at Rolls-Royce. Today marks the beginning of the next phase of their careers in fire response, safety and emergency preparedness.

“Whether as an on-call firefighter or as a member of Rolls-Royce’s Emergency Response Team, undertaking such a role would not be possible without the support of family, therefore it has been an honour to welcome all those passing out and their loved ones to such an event.

“Each new recruit has received the highest possible level of training, and I am confident this will stand them in good stead as they work collectively to Make Derbyshire Safer Together.”

The six new on-call firefighters will now take up positions on fire stations across Derbyshire, serving Ilkeston, Glossop, Long Eaton, Shirebrook and Swadlincote.

Meanwhile the newly competent industrial firefighters will enhance Rolls-Royce’s Emergency Response Team’s operational readiness, and its wider partnership with DFRS will bolster its existing emergency arrangements in Derby.

Emergency Rescue Unit Team Leader at Rolls-Royce, Roy Reynolds also attended the pass-out ceremony, he said: “Our long-term joint training programme is designed to ensure a quicker, more coordinated response if an incident should occur, safeguarding lives, protecting property, and preserving the environment.”

Special Awards
At the end of each firefighter trainee course, two special awards are presented.

The Teamwork Award is presented to the trainee who has given help and support to other members of the team probably at times away from the gaze of the instructors.

The Silver Axe is presented to the trainee who has consistently achieved a high standard in both the technical and practical aspects of the course from day one.

Two new special awards, introduced this year and presented for the very first time at the event, have been introduced in memory of Derbyshire’s retired Chief Fire Officer, Gavin Tomlinson, and former Chief Fire Officer, Rob Taylor, who sadly both passed away last year.

The awards are sponsored by PBI Performance Products, a company whose fabrics are renowned for their exceptional flame resistance and thermal protection from radiant heat, and are favoured by firefighters around the world.

The Gavin Tomlinson Outstanding Operational Knowledge is presented to the trainee who achieved the highest combined mark across all their technical knowledge assessments.

The Rob Taylor Outstanding Breathing Apparatus (BA) Wearer Award goes to the trainee who has performed at a consistently high level throughout all aspects of the breathing apparatus training module.

The special awards for on-call course 1-26 were presented to:

• Teamwork Award – Zoe Gallagher
• Silver Axe – Jacob Gentle-Parker
• Gavin Tomlinson Outstanding Operational Knowledge –Zoe Hodkinson
• Rob Taylor Outstanding Breathing Apparatus (BA) Wearer Award – Zoe Hodkinson