Staff recognised in special awards ceremony

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service staff came together yesterday (Tuesday 30 June) to recognise those who make a positive difference to the service every day.

The Our Recognition Awards are given to those who show outstanding dedication, professionalism and passion in their role.

The awards ceremony, hosted by Chief Fire Officer Glynn Luznyj, took place at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service HQ on Pirehill in Stone.

The ‘Dignity and Respect’ award went to Incident Command Lead Trainer Matt Wade, who raised money for and delivered the Firefighters’ Memorial at HQ, ensuring fallen colleagues are remembered with the honour they deserve.

Community Safety Volunteer, John Mannox, won the ‘Putting our Communities First’ award, for consistently going above and beyond, playing a key role in mentoring and encouraging fellow volunteers.

Firefighter David Small won the ‘Leadership’ award, after he took personal ownership for the Lichfield 7-7 project which has had significant benefits to crews, improving wellbeing and supporting personal and family commitments.

The ‘Integrity’ award was given to JETS technicians Harry Greatbach and Darren Coram, who went over and above the norm by working together through the night to fix an appliance following a critical fault, ensuring that it remained operational.

And finally, the ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ award went to the Dyslexia Assessors Group, comprising Tim Bullock, Tim Chan, Emma Walters and Matt Sykes.

This team address hidden barriers faced by neurodiverse staff by providing informed support and practical adjustments to help others succeed in their roles.

Chief Fire Officer, Glynn Luznyj, said: “More than 40 guests, alongside Deputy Lord Lieutenant Jane Sawyers, the High Sheriff Pritpal Singh Nagi MBE and Staffordshire Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Commissioner Ben Adams, enjoyed a special evening hearing stories of dedication and hard work”.

“It was an honour to present our winners with their awards and the runners-up with their certificates, and I am proud to lead a fantastic group of colleagues who work together to help us achieve our vision of making Staffordshire the safest place to be.”

Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire and Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams, said: “These awards are a great opportunity to recognise the important contribution firefighters, staff and volunteers make to Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service.

“I thank them all for their hard work in keeping the communities of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent safe.”