15304/14THE dedication and hard work of Wiltshire's firefighters was recognised at a ceremony held this week.

The Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sir Maurice Johnston, presented medals for long service and good conduct to 15 officers at the event, held in Devizes on Tuesday.

Among the award winners was Chippenham-based Vince Dade, who began his fire service career in 1981 as a retained firefighter and is now responsible for retained recruitment at the station.

Station officer Andy Green, from Melksham, joined the service as a retained firefighter based at Trowbridge, in 1984, joining whole-time in 1990. He was promoted to station officer last year.

Leading firefighter Steve Manning, from Chippenham, has been with the service for 20 years, working from Swindon and Chippenham before transferring to Salisbury.

Lorry driver David Newman, from Trowbridge, has been a retained firefighter based in the town for the past 21 years and was promoted to leading firefighter in 1994, while Westbury-based Mick Turrall became a retained firefighter in 1984 and has spent eight of his 20 years' service with the brigade as a leading firefighter.