FIREFIGHTERS from all over Wiltshire have been honoured for their service to the brigade. Fifteen officers received fire brigade long service and good conduct medals from Sir Maurice Johnston, the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, at a presentation at the brigade's headquarters in Potterne.

The medals were presented to those who have given 20 years service.

Chief Fire Officer Andy Goves, who joined the brigade last December, said: "These awards reflect 20 years continuous service to the public by our staff.

"It is a huge commitment in this day and age. We would also like to thank the firefighters' partners and families who support them as you can't do this job on your own.

"We are a people business and our staff are what make the fire brigade liked and respected by the public."

Those receiving their medals included retained and full-time firefighters.

Among them was Mervyn Ricks, who was a retained firefighter at Marlborough Fire Station for 20 years.

Mr Ricks, now retired, works as a bus driver for the Wilts and Dorset Bus Company. He is married with two children and has one grandchild.

During his last week of service with the brigade, he was involved in an accident while driving his bus, an incident which his colleagues at Marlborough attended.

The police said that Mr Ricks' quick thinking, by taking evasive action and turning his bus off the road into a hedge, probably saved the lives of the people in the car involved.

Another award recipient Sub Officer Neil Vigor is in charge of Cricklade Fire Station. He joined the brigade at the age of 18 in 1983. He lives at home with his parents helping his mother care for his father who has a debilitating illness.

He worked for the family firm in Cricklade, but now has no other occupation which means he is able to provide cover for the fire station 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Chippenham retained firefighter Vince Dade works full time at Westinghouse Rail Systems, Chippenham as a project manager. He is married with three children, and has been involved in many incidents including tackling the fires at Westinghouse and Hygrade in Chippenham.

Leading Firefighter Steve Manning, who lives in Chippenham, joined the brigade at Swindon Fire Station, transferring to Chippenham in 1990 and a year later to Salisbury where he still serves.

Mr Manning, who has represented the UK in karate, is married with two daughters.

Sub Officer Clive Hall has served at Swindon, Stratton and Westlea fire stations and is currently in charge of red watch at Swindon Fire Station.

Mr Hall, who is the brigade treasurer for the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund, is married to Lynne, a sister at the Great Western Hospital, Swindon, and has two sons.

He was in charge of the Westlea extrication team which came third in a worldwide competition in August 1991.

Station Officer Alan Harper started as a retained firefighter at Wilton and transferred to be a full-time firefighter. He is currently in charge of Stratton and Westlea fire stations.

He is married with two children.

Leading Firefighter Lance Forster joined the brigade in 1984 as a retained firefighter at Devizes. He then became a full-time firefighter and has served at Salisbury, Swindon and Westlea. He is currently at Swindon Fire Station. Married with one son and two stepsons, he has represented the brigade in a number of competitive cycling races.

Charles Afele, who was born in Ghana in 1959, started his fire service career in London and attended the Clapham railway disaster and also the Brixton riots.

In 2001 he transferred to Wiltshire serving at Chippenham and now at Stratton Fire Station.

Mr Afele is in the process of forming a National Annual Fire Day aimed at restoring and maintaining the pride, morale and public awareness of the role of the firefighter in Britain.

Also awarded were Michael Turrall, a retained firefighter at Westbury, and a production manager at Bluemay, Devizes, and Divisional Officer John Popowicz based at brigade headquarters, who has completed the Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race twice, and firefighter Peter Crowle of Swindon Fire Station.