COLLEAGUES and senior staff from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service gathered at Liskeard Community Fire Station to honour and thank three retiring officers.

Between them, Danny Smith, Richard Bailey and Christian Phillips have served an incredible 80 years in their town.

From dramatic and difficult call-outs to serious fires and road accidents, to rescuing trapped animals and checking on smoke alarms in local people’s homes, they have been loyal to their community throughout and have put others first whenever called.

Danny Smith, station manager for on-call, attended his final shout just after midnight on Thursday after 33 years as a firefighter. Richard Bailey crew manager, retires after 30 years and six months, and Christian Philips is leaving the station after 16 years in the role of on-call firefighter.

All three have held full-time jobs alongside their dedication to the Fire and Rescue role.

Among the senior staff attending the presentation evening at Liskeard were Cornwall’s chief fire officer Kathryn Billing, deputy chief fire officer Mark Hewitt, area manager Anthony Bartlett, and group manager for East Cornwall Sacha Wheatman.

“The three guys who are leaving are going to leave a massive dent in Liskeard Fire Station, they’re all very long-serving,” said response station manager for East Command Mark Goldsmith.

“It’s a huge commitment for anyone to do 30 years while holding up another job – responding at any time of the day and the early hours and then going back to work again.”

Danny and Richard are both trained ranks (a firefighter in charge of an appliance) and both qualified drivers in blue light and HGV, and to get to a full level of qualification and their experience does not happen overnight, said Mark.

Paying tribute first to Christian Phillips, he said that he wished to recognise the commitment made over 16 years.

“It’s a massive commitment. Chris is a stonemason and enjoys fishing when he’s not on, and I think everyone here would agree he’s a real grafter.

“Chris likes to keep himself to himself, and he’s just one of those guys who just cracks on.”

Thanking Christian in his absence, chief fire officer Kathryn Billing described him as a “humble and hardworking man”, and a round of applause went around the station from colleagues and friends as Mark Goldsmith showed the plaque with his start and finish dates, BA tally, badge and medal ribbons which he’ll receive as a memento of his service.

Turning to Richard Bailey, Mark said: “We’re going to miss you – and I’m going to miss seeing you jump athletically over the hedge from school!

“You’ve been an absolute servant to us here at Liskeard Fire Station.”

Mark recalled a serious call-out where Richard’s calm and efficient approach stays in his mind: a coach crash near Looe some years ago involving many pensioners on a trip.

He said: “I came up from Bodmin on the rescue tender, Rich was already in there. It wasn’t nice. I needed a load of the seats removed and the windows removed, so I could get all these elderly people out, and he was bang on and straight in.

“Richard, I am sure your dad would be very proud of you.”

Kathryn Billing remembered first meeting Richard when she was group support for Liskeard. She said she was grateful for both the huge support he brought to the station and for the realism: “Rich told me how it really is,” she said.

Danny Smith, said Mark, has given 33 years to Liskeard Fire Station while running his business in the town centre.

“It’s a massive commitment to do that for more than 30 years, and a lot of running up the hill. Danny started here in 1988 – I was still at school. He has held on for a couple of years to retire, waiting for a time when it was going to be good to leave and there were going to be more firefighters.

“When it comes to running the station, Danny’s got a special kind of management style that some people might say is relaxed – but it really has worked up here. He’s one of the nicest people you’ll come across. And he’s always at the forefront of things.”

Kathryn Billing said that Danny and the others retiring were owed a “heartfelt thanks for their commitment on behalf of Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, Liskeard, and the communities of Cornwall”.

She added: “With Danny it has always been about the station, and that’s what we find with our on-call colleagues. It’s that dedication that I really want to thank you for. I might be the chief fire officer but I’ve worked with you here as well – and we never take that for granted.”

Richard and Danny were presented with certificates and ceremonial fire axes, mounted on plaques with their start and finish dates, BA tallies, medals and ribbons.

Thanks and praise were also given to the partners of the two retiring firefighters: Kim and Nikki respectively had supported during many years of “getting woken up at 2am and also dealing with the aftermath of some of the jobs you go on,” said Mark.

Within Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, said Kathryn, three quarters of the workforce are on-call.

“It’s fair to say that if it weren’t for the commitment of our on-call firefighters, we would not have a fire and rescue service,” she said.

“When we talk about a 999 family, it’s not just our colleagues, but by extension it includes family and friends. We recognise that on-call crew would not turn out if it weren’t for the families, so my thanks to those families.

“80 years between you is phenomenal.”

Crew manager Richard Bailey, 51, has given more than 30 years’ service to Liskeard Community Fire Station as an on-call officer alongside his job looking after the maintenance of Liskeard School and Community College, a role he’s held for 20 years.

“My dad was a wholetime officer, so I grew up with the fire service. I used to come to the kids’ parties at the station. I wanted to do something for the community when I grew older.”

Over the years the requirements of the on-call role have changed and expanded, with line rescue and water rescue now part of the training. Richard says that after so many years, it is going to be hard to leave ‘everything’ about the job.

“I’ll miss the crew and the banter, and the enjoyment of helping and serving the public.”

The crew are like family to each other, he says: being on call year round at any time of the day or night brings you closer together with your colleagues, as well as some of the more difficult situations that firefighters do have to encounter.

Dealing with fatalities is the hardest part of the job, says Richard, but there is very good support from fellow crew and also from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service.

“People sometimes think it’s strange if you’ve attended a bad incident, and they’re expecting you to be quiet and serious, and you’re not, but between us on the crew we have a lot of banter, and it’s because we need to diffuse ourselves.

“It’s not just about the fire service, it’s about the friendships.”

Richard says he looks forward to being able to go our for a spur of the moment drink or a meal, and to “go to a mate’s for a barbecue knowing you’re not going to get called out”.

“But that’s part of the job and when you’re in it, that’s what you do, you sacrifice your time to attend incidents.”

Richard pays tribute to his partner Kim for her support around the clock, and all the wives and partners of on-call crew, as well as the employers who he says also deserve recognition for supporting the role.

“Kim and I have been together for 12 years and she knows I’ve done the job for 30 years, she’s seen that I’ve been committed to it. She can’t believe that I’m retiring and thinks I might come back!”

Danny Smith, who retires from his role as station manager for on-call at Liskeard Fire Station after 33 years, says he will have memories to treasure from the friendships and experiences he’s gained as part of the crew.

Danny, who runs D Smith and Sons shoe repair shop on Bay Tree Hill, has become accustomed to downing tools and running up the hill from the shop to the fire station.

“I feel very emotional about leaving, its like being part of a family,” he said.

“There are lots of experiences from over the years that stand out. There were obviously lots of fires, and those memories are both good and bad.

“What stands out most I would say are the charity events such as those we’ve done for the Fire Fighters Charity. And also climbing the Three Peaks.”

Danny says that the most rewarding thing during his career with Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service has been “being part of a team and learning lots of new things over the years”.

“A lot has changed from when I started, such as the different equipment we have had to get used to,” he said.

“The thing I’ll miss most is working with the other men and ladies.

“I’m very emotional about leaving, but it really is time. I’m going to have so many memories though that will always be there.”