The number of women firefighters joining Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is “slowly growing” with successful taster sessions being held across the county.

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, six women toured Craven Arms Fire Station where they met women firefighters, watched a ladder drill and learned about the role of on call firefighters serving at 23 county fire stations.

An appeal has gone out for more “on call” firefighters across Shropshire but they are especially needed in both Prees and Newport. Anyone interested can turn up at the second of two recruitment events being held at Newport Fire Station, Salters Lane, on Saturday, March 28 from 10am to 1pm.

There are a total of 15 firefighters who cover the Newport area but they need more with six recently retiring or moving away.

While there are are 11 firefighters in Prees but “we can take 16,” says Watch Manager Tony Peck, who works at a concrete plant.

Women who want to be firefighters turned out for a “taster” session at a Shropshire fire station.

Attending the taster session on Saturday at Oswestry Fire Station were women aged between 23 and 47 and included mums whose children were leaving for university, a child care worker, butcher, fitness instructor and a business support worker.

They learned what it takes to join the county’s 300 plus “on call” fully trained firefighters who deal with around the clock emergencies.

Women’s Taster Day

Oswestry Fire Station, Saturday  21st February 2015 at 09.30 - 12.00

We are holding a taster event to encourage women to look at becoming part-time professional firefighters. To be a retained firefighter you need to live within 5 minutes of your local fire station in Shropshire, be fit and reliable, and be able to attend for duty at any time within your agreed hours. We provide training, support, promotion opportunities, excellent pay and conditions of service and a strong commitment to equality.

The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust (HMDT) is the charity which promotes and supports Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD). 27 January 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. 2015 will also be the 20th anniversary of the Genocide in Srebrenica, Bosnia. It is particularly appropriate that the theme for this major anniversary year focuses on memory.