Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is saying goodbye to its Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) after thirty years of serving his community.
ACFO Guy Willimas hung up his helmet on 31st August following what he describes as ‘long and varied career’.
Guy began his fire service career in 1995 at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service after spending four years applying all over the country.
He said: “I always wanted to do something community based, which goes back to being a young lad as Hillsborough. I just wanted to make some sort of positive contribution, so it motivated me to get involved.”
Guy spent eight years with White Watch in Stafford where he attended countless incidents on the M6 motorway and attending some 14 calls a day.
In 2003 Guy joined Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service as a firefighter in Telford and worked his way up the ranks to his current role as ACFO. During his time in Shropshire he has been part of some of the largest fires in the county including the blaze at Grinshill Wood. More than 60 firefighters attended the fire which potentially could have wiped out an entire village of properties. Thanks to the hard work of the Service to area was saved.
“Things were very different then, it wasn’t like the command support you have now, it was me and another officer with about ten radios and clipboards planning how to stop this fire. Most of the properties there then had private oil and gas supplies so it could have been a real disaster. It took about a week for us to put it out, but we got there in the end.”
Over the years Guy has experienced the most serious incidents but also recalled some of the lighter sides of the job.
“I remember my very first Breathing Apparatus wear. It is drilled into you at training that you never leave your BA partner and we were going into this house fire and next second my partner is just gone. Well turns out he’s made a be-line for the door and fallen straight into an indoor swimming pool. Full fire kit and breathing apparatus set on his back. Of course I was there to help him but the next day we all did the parade in full flippers.”
Guy added that being a firefighter was not about praise, he said: “What I like about the job is the common purpose. Whether you’re at incidents or out n the community, its not about you, its about doing the right thing, not looking for praise. It is a privilege. When someone gives you a look and just recognises that you’ve helped them or you’re doing your best to make what is probably their worst moment a little bit better or just not quite as - that’s what it’s about.
“It's real honour to be trusted, as someone these people don’t know, to go into their house with their most valuable possessions they trust you to do your job, they trust their child to you in the back of the car or their beloved pets. You know to have the honour to be trusted in their most vulnerable moments is everything.
“It would be remiss of me to say that in between those times you do have an outrageous laugh together – the humour and the bonding – it is a very special thing to be a part of. We’re professionals but I really value the friendships I’ve made over the years.
“I’m going to miss the energy and miss the conversations. I have always enjoyed talking to people and have tried to keep that no mater what rank I am.”
Over the years Guy has seen considerable change in the Service.
“When I joined we didn’t have the internet, we had maybe one computer lurking around, there wasn’t the dozens of emails sent a day. You just had to talk to people. We didn’t have any of the technology we have now, even the sat nav, you know back then you just had someone trying to use the map to navigate you, usually at around 70mph. There’s a lot of more safety measures in place now but we still wear our BA and we still pump water so that much hasn’t changed.”
Guy will mainly be spending his retirement with his wife and son. “I’ll be putting time back int my family. The job has been demanding over the years and I’m looking forward to spending more time with my family. Don’t worry I won’t be bored though as I know my wife will have a good list of jobs for me.”
