Local Fire-Fighters Honoured At Annual Awards Ceremony

FIREFIGHTERS from Soham and Littleport were among those honoured at Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Services' annual awards ceremony last week.

Dozens of awards, ranging from chairman's commendations right through to certificates for long service, were handed out to servicemen and women at the ceremony held in Huntington, with three firemen from East Cambridgeshire picking up awards.

Peter Allen, former watch manager at Littleport Fire Station, was honoured alongside Soham Fire Station duo, Mick Galley and Alan Fuller.

Mr Allen, who received a chairman's award for 25 years service, told the Ely Standard: "It was a very nice night, it was very well organised and I was able to bring my whole family along so it was great.

Mr Allen joined up with the service along with his brother in 1983, after neighbours asked their parents whether they would be interested. Mr Allen's brother is now a full time officer based in King's Lynn while he became a station manager in Littleport.

"It is something that will stay with me forever, even though I've recently retired, after 25 years I couldn't just walk away completely and I often pop in to the station to see how the lads are doing."

Soham pair Mick Galley and Alan Fuller were handed certificates of commendation for clocking up 49 years' of retained fire fighting between them, whilst consistently putting in selfless shifts of 160 hours of cover per week.

Mr Galley, who was talked into joining the service by work colleagues in 1985, told the Ely Standard: "I was really pleased to have been given the award, Alan and I were nominated by our service officer and we were both delighted.

"I'm 57 now but I have no plans to retire, my next milestone is my 25 years service which I'm due for next year."

Soham fire-fighters Mick Galley (left) and Alan Fuller with Chief Fire Officer, Graham Stagg.

Photo: SUPPLIED.