Children from Bicton School Choir joined honoured guests and firefighter families to sing their hearts out at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service's Festival of Carols held at Barnabas Community Church, Shrewsbury. Funds were raised for both the Firefighters' Charity and the Shrewsbury Food Bank which has helped thousands in need of help.

Oswestry firefighter John Davies has retired after a 33 year career with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

John (61), who is Watch Manager in charge at Oswestry Fire Station, hung up his helmet at his final Wednesday night drill night this week. (July 19th)

His long service as an on call firefighter covering the Oswestry region means he has attended around 1,700 weekly drill nights where firefighters practice their skills ready to deal with any emergency which comes their way.

Two of the UK’s longest serving firefighters are to be recognised by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service at an awards ceremony on June 8.

Firefighting duo Phil Smith and Dave Furber have served together at Wem Fire Station for more than 40 years each.

“To reach 40 years service is a huge achievement not reached by many in the UK but it’s not unusual in Shropshire. Our firefighters are amazingly dedicated and deliver levels of availability that many other services would envy,“ said Chief Fire Officer Rod Hammerton.

Shropshire firefighters boosted the Shrewsbury Mayor’s charity appeal to buy defibrillators for schools by carrying a ladder to the top of Snowdon.

It was a “thank you” from Red Watch to Ioan Jones, the unassuming mayor, who works as a cleaner at Shrewsbury Fire Station inbetween a packed schedule of public commitments and voluntary efforts.

Crew Manager Dave Allen said: “You don’t expect the mayor to be cleaning your fire station. He’s a lovely bloke. Nice to chat to and he’s done so much for the community.”

Shropshire firefighters paraded in front of their fire stations to mark the first annual Firefighters Memorial Day to remember the bravery and sacrifice of firefighters who died in the line of duty.

With flags at half mast, firefighters from wholetime fire stations at Telford, Wellington and Shrewsbury observed a minute’s silence along with colleagues from across the UK.

Officers in charge read out the Firefighters' Prayer written in the last century by an unknown author in the ceremonies held at midday on Thursday, May 4th this week. (see prayer below) (document attached)