Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service’s (SFRS), Deputy Chief Fire Officer, has now retired after a total of 22 years’ service.
David Myers has been instrumental in helping transform the organisation into a sustainable service, fit for the future and in championing better working lives for staff.
Mr Myers said: “It has been a pleasure working in Shropshire and I want to thank everyone for their support and hard work over the few years I have been here.
“I hope I’ve played a part in further developing the Service into a place where everyone feels valued as well as driving positive change.”
His main achievements include developing a workplace charter, to further support positive relationships throughout the Service and key areas of responsibility included human resources, information, communication and technology (ICT), planning, risk and performance, communications and and collaboration.
Mr Myers’ work around menopause, resulted in the Service being nominated as a model employer for its support offered to employees and to working closely with Government to improve the working lives of women.
During his career outside of Shropshire Mr Myers worked with young people on the Princes Trust programme, been an aerial platform operator, a technical rescue rope and water operative and instructor, an equality and diversity trainer and managed stations and a community safety centre.
Chief Fire Officer Rod Hammerton said: “Dave brought with him some really valuable knowledge about how to build effective collaboration and how to strengthen culture.
“This has helped Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service both forge an effective fire alliance and achieve an inspection rating of “good” in how we work with our people.
“Beyond that Dave’s professional and level-headed style of leadership has helped look after the Service in exceptionally uncertain times and I know it will be hard to replace him.”
On retiring Mr Myers said: “I have had challenging days, but I’ve never regretted joining the fire service. I’ve enjoyed coming to work every day.
“I’ll miss the friends and colleagues I have made throughout my career and would recommend the fire service to anyone; but I’ve also fallen in love with Shropshire although I am retiring to my home in Dorset, I will return from time to time and spend time on the canals.”
Mr Myers joined SFRS from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) in 2017. Previously he progressed through the ranks from firefighter with Dorset Fire and Rescue Service (DFRS) where he started in 1999.
From January, two newly appointed Assistant Chief Fire Officers (ACFO), Simon Hardiman, currently serving as temporary Assistant Chief Fire Officer in Shropshire and Dan Quinn, already an Assistant Chief Fire Officer in Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue will replace two substantive vacancies and report directly to the Chief Fire Officer; one having direct responsibility for service delivery and the other for corporate support and infrastructure.
The job of being a firefighter is quite unique. It can be unpredictable, exciting, and rewarding, coupled with the satisfaction and respect that comes with providing a crucial service to your local community as part of a closely knit, professional team.
Full time rercruitment has closed for this year but vacancies still exisint for 'on-call' firefighters who form a crucial part of the Service and come from all walks of life and all ages (from 18).
If you, or someone you know is looking for a new challenge, they must live or work within five minutes of a station and be available for a set number of hours each week to answer 999 calls.
Full training, support, promotion opportunities along with excellent pay await candidates who must pass physical and written tests and ideally have good communication skills and enjoy working in a team.
On-call staff are a crucial part of the Fire Service who are essential for keeping Shropshire’s rural communities safe. Click here for more details.
