Watch commander and Burwell resident Les Fuller has been waved off by his crew after nearly 40 years of firefighting.

Ely Standard: Les Fuller says goodbye to his crew after nearly 40 years of firefighting in Cambridgeshire.Les Fuller says goodbye to his crew after nearly 40 years of firefighting in Cambridgeshire. (Image: Archant)

A presentation was made to the 64-year-old in front of his family and crew by the Chief Fire Officer of Cambridgeshire.

Les joined Burwell’s on-call crew 39 years ago when he worked at a factory in the village, which would release its staff to respond to fire calls during their shifts.

He said: “The camaraderie, team spirit, variety of training and different incidents we attended is what kept me in the job so long. I was never a firefighter for the glory of it; it’s all been about the team on station and what we did as a crew.

“I would like to thank everybody for their support over the years including my family. I wouldn’t still be here if it wasn’t for the people who were by my side every shout and with whom I made so many memories with.”

Ely Standard: Les Fuller says goodbye to his crew after nearly 40 years of firefighting in Cambridgeshire.Les Fuller says goodbye to his crew after nearly 40 years of firefighting in Cambridgeshire. (Image: Archant)

During Les’ time he attended hundreds of incidents, notably significant fires at Chilford Hall, Spiller’s Mill in Cambridge, Thetford’s Center Parcs and Brandon’s plastics factory.

Grandfather and father-of-two Les said: “I’ve been to so many jobs I can’t remember them all. The big incidents always stand out, as do the interesting ones, like the time we attended a big job in Thetford and all the hoses were frozen because it was so cold. Burwell is in a good location as we would always be one of the first stations to attend large incidents in Cambridge and were often called over the border into Suffolk.”

More recently, Les has overseen the combining of Swaffham Bulbeck and Burwell Fire Stations to a new site in Burwell.

Chief Fire Officer Graham Stagg added: “People like Les give up so much to serve their community and are an inspiration to those they lead, both on the fire ground and in their community. On-call firefighting has clearly been a part of Les’ life for nearly four decades and I know I speak on behalf of many when I say thank you to him and to his family for all he has given to Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and for all the lives he has saved along the way.

“He will be sorely missed by not just his crew at Burwell but by many of Cambridgeshire’s wholetime and on-call firefighters and we all wish him the very best.”

Burwell Fire Station is recruiting on-call firefighters and for more information, visit the station between 7pm and 9pm on a Thursday, or call 01480 444500.