A number of people from fire and rescue services have been recognised in the New Year Honours list. These are the first honours to be bestowed on the public by His Majesty King Charles III and include the first King’s Fire Service Medal (KFSM). 

The following were awarded:

OBE

• Ann Millington (QFSM), Chief Executive, Kent Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Fire and Rescue. 

MBE

• Terry Jewell, Station Manager, Essex Fire and Rescue Service. For services to International Search and Rescue (Essex)

BEM

• Bryan Lynch, Watch Manager, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to the community in Lincolnshire 
• Tom Hatfield, Station Manager, Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to the Covid-19 response in Shropshire
• Ian Satherley, Secretary and Treasurer, Avon Fire and Rescue Service Pensioners Association. For Voluntary and Charitable Service 

K.F.S.M.

• Darren Dovey, lately Chief Fire Officer, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service.
• Derek James, Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.
• Christopher Kemp, Senior Fire Protection Manager, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
• John Roberts, Chief Fire Officer, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.
• Dawn Whittaker, Chief Fire Officer, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
• Alan Aitken, Watch Commander, South Lanarkshire, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
•  Robert Strang on call Crew Commander, Carradale in Arygll and Bute, Scottish Fire and Service

Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council Mark Hardingham congratulated all those who have received the awards: “Once again, people from fire and rescue services have been honoured and this time by His Majesty The King. I am delighted that we continue to see people from fire and rescue services being honoured, and I am incredibly proud to see colleagues included for their outstanding work.

“As ever, it has been a busy year for fire and rescue services, the heatwave brought many challenges which firefighters and 999 control staff coped with admirably, all fire services were involved in supporting four convoys of fire appliances and equipment to help support firefighters on the frontline in Ukraine along with the superb day to day prevention, protection and response work in local communities.

“I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to all those honoured this year by the King. I continue to be immensely proud of staff across fire and rescue services and their outstanding dedication and commitment to the people they serve.

“These are prestigious honours recognising those who have committed themselves to serving and helping the country, are outstanding at what they do, make a difference to their communities or field of work; improve life for people and display moral courage.” 

Watch Commander Aitken, who’s served for 34 years, said: “It’s an honour and, to be quite truthful, my wife and family deserve it more than me for what they’ve put up with over the years, especially when you’re getting ready to go to family parties or weddings and you’re late because you’re on call.

“The crews I’ve worked with throughout my career are also a part of this too. I just love the job and helping people in my own community.”