FIREFIGHTERS will be presented with a number of awards at a special ceremony next week.

The Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sarah Troughton, will be on hand to present eight Long Service and Good Conduct medals to crew members from across the county on Tuesday at the Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service headquarters in Potterne, near Devizes.

A total of eight Long Service and Good Conduct medals will be presented during the event.

The medals are awarded by Royal Warrant on behalf of the Queen for ‘exemplary fire service’.

Each recipient must be personally recommended by the Chief Fire Officer and the criteria include ‘meritorious service and good conduct’.

Medals will be presented to crew manager Jonathan Allsopp from Tisbury fire station, crew manager Brian Frances from Cricklade fire station, firefighter Steven Hedges from Stratton fire station, firefighter Richard Lavens from Devizes fire station, station manager Jack Nicholson, based at Chippenham, watch manager Wayne Presley from the Training & Development Centre in Devizes and Marlborough fire station, crew manager Keith Shackleford from Corsham fire station and firefighter Simon Ward from Salisbury fire station.

Long service certificates will be presented to three members of corporate staff, based at headquarters, to mark 20 years with the service. They are Michelle Bond, Louise Fielding and Julie Matthews.

The ceremony will also see the presentation of Chief Fire Officer’s Commendations and Certificates of Appreciation; and a number of Excellence Awards which recognise outstanding achievement.

Chief Fire Officer Simon Routh-Jones said: “This is an important event in the service’s annual calendar, as it recognises the dedication and hard work of our staff, but it also gives us the opportunity to thank others who help us to support the people of Wiltshire and Swindon.

“This will be the last time we hold such a ceremony for Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service, as next year we will be the new Dorset and Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service, so the proceedings will have a certain poignancy.”