The Lord Lieutenant of Gwynedd, Mr Edmund Seymour Bailey presented Long Service and Good Conduct Medals and 30 and 40-years clasps to operational staff from the Service during an awards ceremony held at Rhyl on Thursday evening 27^th October.

The Long Service and Good Conduct Medal is awarded to firefighters by His Majesty's Representative in recognition of 20 years of service and the clasps are issued in recognition of 30 and 40 years of service.

Awards recognising 50 years of operational service as well as Community Awards to recognise members of staff and the community who have worked hard to improve community safety in North Wales were also presented by Dawn Docx, Chief Fire Officer and Councillor Dylan Rees, Chair of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority.

Dawn Docx, Chief Fire Officer said: "Receiving a medal or clasp is an important occasion for every firefighter and this ceremony demonstrates the degree of commitment and dedication each one of the recipients has given to the Fire and Rescue Service in North Wales. All recipients can take pride and satisfaction in receiving their Long Service and Good Conduct Medals or clasps.

“I was also delighted this year that we were able to celebrate the community awards for the first time since the pandemic. 

“My heartfelt congratulations go to all those who attended, as well as to the staff who opted to receive their medals or recognition privately. Your service is truly appreciated, both by me as Chief Fire Officer, your colleagues and by the communities we all serve.”

Councillor Dylan Rees, Chair of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, said: “On behalf of Members of the North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority I would like to congratulate everyone who received a medal, clasp or award. Many thanks to you all for your dedication.”

Long Service and Good Conduct Medals, and 30 and 40-year clasps

Long Service and Good Conduct Medals

Craig Grant, Acting Watch Manager, Abersoch

Jason Jones, Watch Manager, Porthmadog and WDS Rural Firefighter

Adam Clubbe, Crew Manager, Llangollen

Dewi Jones, Crew Manager, Holyhead

Mark Lind, Crew Manager, Bala

Matthew Macdonald, Acting Crew Manager, Denbigh

Colin Davies, Firefighter, Colwyn Bay

Jaspal Dhaliwal, Firefighter, Prestatyn

Jayne Greene, Firefighter, Wrexham

30-year clasp

Stewart Forshaw, Deputy Chief Fire Officer

Paul Scott, Head of ICT, Control and the Central Area

John Paul Morris, Watch Manager, Holyhead Fire Station

Neville Weston, Crew Manager, Abergele Fire Station

Blythe Roberts

40-year clasp

Tommy Rowlands, Watch Manager, Llanfairfechan and WDS Rural Watch Manager

Community Awards

Outstanding Dedication to Service Award

Winner - Dave Bithell, Watch Manager, Wrexham and Fire Extinguisher and Hydrant Engineer

Dave has provided dedicated service to the public of North Wales as an operational firefighter for more than 50 years.

Full-time Station of the Year 

Winner - Wrexham Fire Station

This award is for the full-time station that has carried out notable work during the year.

On-call Station of the Year 

Winner - Dolgellau Fire Station

This award is for the On-Call Station of the Year, which recognises an on-call or retained fire station which has carried out notable work. 

Community Safety Partner Award 

Winner - Unicook

This award recognises the work of partner agencies or public bodies who work in partnership with North Wales Fire and Rescue Service, in their quest to deliver vital community safety messages. 

Outstanding Contribution by an Individual

Winner - Ian Butler, Watch Manager Benllech and at the Joint Communications Centre

This award recognises an Outstanding Contribution by a member of staff who regularly works above and beyond their normal duties.

Commitment to the Welsh Language Award

Winner - Brian Holmes, Operational Assurance Manager for Conwy and Denbighshire

The award for Commitment to the Welsh language is presented to an individual, a department or a station who has made a valuable contribution to the Welsh language or has shown a particular commitment and determination towards learning Welsh over the last 12 months.

Commitment to Health, Fitness and Wellbeing Award

Winner - Mark Kassab, retired 

This award is presented to an individual, department, station, team or group in recognition of their work in raising the profile of any aspect of health, fitness or wellbeing, or for having stood out as exemplars of commitment and determination to improve any aspect of health, fitness or wellbeing.

Employer of the Year Award

Winners - Morris Cook (Llangollen), Ruth Lee (Corwen) and Harlech Golf Club

The Employer of the Year Award is in recognition of a local employer who regularly releases staff to carry out firefighting duties in the community.

These employers are essential in assisting to keep fire appliances available across North Wales.

Learner of the Year Award 

Winner - Sam Wright, Apprentice Firefighter, Wrexham

This award is presented to an individual, in recognition of either their achievement in gaining a qualification or similar at a standard that is well beyond what would normally be expected, or for having overcome a particular challenge to learn a new skill or to gain a qualification or similar in their role. 

Contribution to Diversity Award

Winners - Jamie Lewis is the Health, Fitness and Wellbeing Adviser and Amy Croxton, Recruitment and Availability Manager for the East area.

Awarded to an individual, department, station, team or group in recognition of their contribution to raising the profile of any aspect of equality, diversity or inclusion or for having stood out as exemplars of commitment and determination to improve any aspect of equality, diversity or inclusion.

Commitment to Charity Award

Winner - Paul Williams, Firefighter, Caernarfon Fire Station

This award recognises an individual, department, station, team or group in recognition of their contribution to raising the profile of a charity or to raising money for a charity.

Department of the Year Award

Winner - Joint Communications Centre (JCC), St Asaph

This award is presented to a department that has carried out notable work.

Well done and congratulations to everyone!