WATCH MANAGER: Mark Rigby

Mark Rigby has worked as a Retained Firefighter for South Wales Fire and Rescue Service for over 19 years and has been in charge of Abercynon Station for six years.

As his main employment Mark works as a Maintenance Engineer for a gift wrap company. He enjoys playing and watching football and sea-fishing during the summer. Mark lives approximately two minutes away from the Station.

CREW MANAGER: Mark Evans

Mark Evans joined the Service in 1994 and has been Crew Manager at Abercynon Station for ten years. Mark also works on the Retained Management Team to develop a system to deliver the Firefighter training programme to the Retained Duty Staff.

As his main employment Mark runs his own Landrover specialist garage.

“Although there is a lot of commitment required of Firefighters on the Retained Duty System you also get a tremendous amount of satisfaction knowing you are there when you are needed by your community”.

FIREFIGHTER: Darren Lewis

Darren has been a Firefighter with South Wales Fire and Rescue Service for over eight years. Darren also works full-time as a tutor and technician in carpentry and joinery for Coleg Morgannwg.

“The jobs that we attend vary from call to call and can be sad, unusual or even unexpected! Whatever the call, it is rewarding to know that you are helping people that cannot help themselves”.

FIREFIGHTER: Lee Thomas

Lee Thomas has been a Firefighter at Abercynon Station for four years. Away from the Station Lee works as a team leader at AB Connectors.

“As a Firefighter I get great satisfaction from knowing I am on call when members of the community need saving or protecting”

FIREFIGHTER: Roy Wiltshire

Roy is a recent recruit to the Retained Duty System having joined the Service just six months ago. Roy also works on a full-time basis for the Environmental Agency Wales.

“I am committed to my role as a Retained Firefighter as I like to help the people of Abercynon and the surrounding area”

FIREFIGHTER: Anthony O’Donell

Anthony O’Donnell has been a retained Firefighter at Abercynon Fire Station for five years,

“I joined mainly because I wanted to help people in my community. I also wanted to work in an area where teamwork plays a crucial role and found that the Fire and Rescue Service more than fulfils my expectations”

FIREFIGHTER: Mathew Bayliss

Matthew joined South Wales Fire and Rescue Service in July 2005 and has been a Firefighter at Abercynon Fire Station since joining.

“I joined South Wales Fire and Rescue Service to help people in my community and to learn new skills. I am employed on a 100% contract which means I am on call for a total of 84 hours per week. This fits in with my full time employment as a night manager at a hotel in Cardiff.

“Since joining the service I have learned many new skills including teamwork and first aid. Many of my new skills can be used in my full time employment and in my general every day life.”