2023 SWFRS Awards and Long Service Presentation Evening
Outstanding service by colleagues and members of our communities was recognised by South Wales Fire and Rescue Service in the Annual Awards and Long Service Presentation Evening on 21 June 2023.
The evening was hosted by Councillor Steven Bradwick, Chairperson of the Fire and Rescue Authority and Chief Fire Officer Huw Jakeway QFSM. Guests included the Lord Lieutenant of Mid Glamorgan, Professor Peter Vaughan QPM CStJ; Mayors and the Mayoress of our Unitary Authorities; High Sheriffs; Members of the Fire and Rescue Authority and Officers and Heads of Department.
The following Chief Fire Officer awards were presented:
Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation
Gary Griffiths and John Stone
Prior the attendance of SWFRS at a Road Traffic Collision on A4232 in June 2022, Gary Griffiths and John Stone, the drivers of two vehicles at the scene, rescued the male occupant from a burning car, smashing the window with an extinguisher and preventing a fatal injury.
Firefighter Thomas Winstone
In January 2022, whilst off-duty Thomas Winstone was called by a friend who had noticed a young female on the wrong side of a bridge in Brynmawr, jumping over the railings to restrain her from jumping until the rope rescue crews arrived.
Chief Fire Officer Letter of Congratulation
Blue Watch, Stations Malpas, Maindee and Duffryn
Crews responded to a flat fire in the early hours of the morning in August 2022. The occupier was trapped in the flat and was rescued by fire crews, who performed CPR for 20 minutes before handing over the responsive casualty to the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust.
Red Watch, Aberbargoed Station
During a house fire in Bargoed in July 2022, the crews rescued a person from the upper floor of the property, having to go past the escalating fire, and also kept the fire from spreading to neighbouring properties.
Pencoed and Bridgend Station crews
Crews rescued an elderly lady under difficult conditions in May 2022, utilising ladders and breathing apparatus. Two crew members also transported her along with the police to the hospital for emergency medical intervention, saving the individual’s life.
Crew Manager Robert Jenkins and Firefighter Denzel Lawrence
CM Jenkins and FF Lawrence were alerted to a domestic abuse by a female saying her friend was being attacked. Both crew members intervened to stop the abuse and using no physical contact got the abuser to stop, and move on, making the female sale and stopping any further escalation.
Watch Manager Paul Schofield
An adult suffered a medical emergency at a football centre in Newport in January 2023. Off-duty Watch Manager Schofield calmly took control of the situation, clearing children from the courts and undertook eight rounds of CPR on the casualty, until paramedics arrived.
Firefighters Nathalie Phillips and Adam Collins
Blue watch Ebbw Vale attended two incidents for young vulnerable persons threatening to jump from bridges. After information that the vulnerable person would respond better to a female voice, FF Collins established a rope rescue system, while FF Phillips calmly talked the casualty down successfully, throughout 20-30 minutes.
Firefighter Robert Allen
FF Robert Allen was off-duty in October 2022 in Bridgend, when a gentleman in his early thirties become unwell at a social function and passed out. Robert and his sister-in-law (who is a nurse) then performed CPR on the gentleman for over 25 minutes, until he regained consciousness and recovered following a few days in hospital.
Pencoed, Pontyclun and Whitchurch Stations, plus Joint Fire Control
Due to a tumble dryer fire, a female in Pontyclun was trapped in their front room. There were excellent communications between Control, and officers en-route, ensuring crews were aware of fire survival guidance being provided and the current location of the casualty. The incident was displaying signs of potential backdraught and needed to be managed carefully before access was gained, using breathing apparatus to locale the unconscious female who was then subject to CPR, saving her life.
White Watch, Pontypridd Station = Paul Beynon, James Russell, Luke Jones, Joshua Roberts and Aled Bound
White Watch Pontypridd ran to help an individual with chest pains, tending to them for more than an hour until resorting to CPR and the use of a defibrillator, when they went into cardiac arrest, saving their life before the ambulance attended.
Christopher Clarke
Mr Clarke helped the occupants of a Road Traffic Collision, arranging for the Service to be called, stabilising the overturned vehicle and then rescuing the infant and distressed mother prior to SWFRS arriving on scene.
Chief Fire Officer Letter of Commendation
Grayson Taylor
Grayson Taylor, four, woke his parents in the early hours of the morning to alert them to a beeping noise coming from the carbon monoxide alarm going off next to their wood burner. Read more on Grayson’s story.
Firefighters Stuart Hall and Gareth Willey
Both Firefighters were on duty in a service vehicle passing a shop in Cardiff and noticed two males running from the store with boxes, while a shop assistant apprehended one. The firefighters distracted the one knife-wielding shoplifter and told the shop assistant to go back into the store to a place of safety, before giving statements to the police.
Simone Hallet
Simone assisted another member of the public in carrying out life-saving actions in relation to a suicide attempt in her local community whilst off-duty.
Crew Manager Andrew Fisher
CM Fisher was staying at a hotel in Coventry while off-duty. In the early hours in October 2022, a fire broke out in the hotel and CM Fisher was alerted to the alarm, and offered his assistance to staff at reception stating that he was an off-duty firefighter. He made his way to the room where the fire was reported, using a fire extinguisher on the fire, limiting any damage, and later assisting with the investigation which found the cause to be accidental, as a pillow was accidentally ignited by a tea light. CM Fisher was treated for smoke inhalation and his prompt action prevented the fire developing into a more serious incident.
Operational Excellence Award
Red Watch, Ely Station
Following a Road Traffic Collision in September 2022, the vehicle had left the road and was on fire, with one passenger still inside. Firefighters ran to the car and pulled the passenger through the window whilst avoiding the heat and flames. The Watch Manager and Firefighters protected the crews while carrying out the rescue by using the hose reel to extinguish the fire and also triaged several other casualties, giving them oxygen while awaiting the ambulance.
Green Watch, Fire Control
In May 2022, Green Watch handled several difficult and protracted calls during one night shift, from a disabled lady trapped in a flat due to a kitchen fire to a distressed elderly gentleman, the death of a young person during an incident and working alongside police to respond to and locate a suicidal female.
White Watch, Ely Station
Crews from Ely attended a well-developed fire in a first floor flat, relying upon their training to rescue two residents trapped in their bedroom, via the window, who were lucky in only requiring treatment for smoke inhalation. Any delay in the crew response could have led to a very different outcome.
Outstanding Achievement (Team)
International Search and Rescue (ISAR) personnel – Station Commander Darren Cleaves, Crew Managers Emma Atcherley and Tristan Bowen and Firefighters Rob Buckley and Luke Davison
In February 2023 and earthquake hit southern and central Turkey and north and western Syria. ISAR were deployed, and the South Wales Team volunteered to go, rescuing eight people buried in the rubble, and guiding rescue teams to a further three people with the help of rescue dogs. ISAR were also deployed to Malawi, to help the water rescue operation.
Outstanding Partnership
Station Manager Nev Thomas
SM Nev Thomas was instrumental in the creation of the ‘Just one minute’ campaign to support the 30-20 mph speed limit change, working tirelessly in collaboration with policing, local authority and Welsh Government to embed this work across Wales.
Miss Tilley’s
Since October 2019 Miss Tilley’s provided canteen facilities at SWFRS headquarters, with lunchtime and breaktime we would regularly see their friendly faces and eagerness for customer service in the canteen as well as when taking the snack trolley around the building. Miss Tilley’s have won numerous awards, including one for volunteer co-ordinator of the year, for Clare Rowthorn, who has become a familiar face at HQ. Miss Tilley’s has been instrumental in developing the HQ garden.
Long Service and Good Conduct
The Fire Service Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is awarded by His Majesty the King, who has stated that he is desirous of honouring those who have rendered long and meritorious service as members of the Fire Brigades of the United Kingdom. Colleagues were presented with the following:
Long Service and Good Conduct Medals – 20 years of service
Long Service and Good Conduct Clasps – 30 years of service
Long Service and Good Conduct Clasps – 40 years of service
Long Service Certificates for Corporate Staff – 20 years of service
Chief Fire Officer Huw Jakeway QFSM said, “It is always a privilege and a pleasure to celebrate the long service and good conduct of personnel. It is also about celebrating the long and loyal service of our corporate professional colleagues as well, who without doubt deliver essential services. Across Team South Wales we all have different roles but the same goals, and that is to make our communities safer. Congratulations and well done to everyone on your outstanding achievements. At the event we heard about some extraordinary actions from members of the public and colleagues from across the Service who have saved lives, assisted people in distress and danger – whilst on and off-duty. What impresses me every single day is the dedication, professionalism and commitment from everyone at Team South Wales.”